Leadership and management skills are something that rarely come naturally for most people. However if you follow some basic rules and are willing to learn how to work with people, you will have things running much more smoothly in the workplace. Here’s a list of some of the things you should ‘not’ be doing.

Ignoring workers
I would call your workers the lifeline, strength, and core of the organization. They are the ones who help us achieve the corporate goals of growth. Incorrect messages sent across to workers can be a financial and productivity drag for any business. They are the people who, under all circumstances, push across right from top to bottom and ensure that the organization grows. They are people filled with feelings and emotions and have to be sensitized about their importance, their need in the organization, and the purpose of their responsibilities.

Mishandling criticism
Leadership does not mean being a dictator just because we are in a leadership position. It means, you as the head of a large family, should be the guide and mentor to their growth and also have the responsibility that each and every team member in your organization contributes to it. This enhances your ability to lead and help out the member. As a leader you need to have patience to listen to their constructive criticism and make necessary changes. If a worker cares enough to share his views by way of criticism, the least you can do is to listen.

Inability to delegate responsibilities
Change, always, is for the better of the organizations and not just for the betterment of the individuals. People feel that to prove to be a leader you need to have complete control. This is often a problem for small business owners and managers. Trust is an important factor for managers and leaders. We need to trust and believe that the team members are capable to deliver what we have been able to deliver for long. As a leader if you don’t delegate responsibilities and give each member his responsibilities, you will never grow yourself. If they really can’t do the job because they lack a particular skill, then get them the training required or hire someone who has that skill. An important part of leadership and management is about making sure that things run smoothly and efficiently, and that does not mean holding all responsibilities with us and doing everything ourselves!