Managers make three mistakes when they try to run businesses. They do too much,they don't trust their people and they don't have enough skills. Here weexplore an easy 3-step process to get your business back on track and get a life.
Managers work in increasingly challenging circumstances and workload seems toever increase. There are opportunities to use the capabilities of each andevery one of those who work with them. Yet many managers struggle on, carryingthe burden until finally, that straw comes along which breaks the camel's(aka manager's) back.
So what happens? Well, managers choose not to give tasks away, for severalreasons.

• The manager may feel obliged to do most of the work - after all, that's what hebelieves he's getting paid for.
  
  There is a knowledge gap.


• He may not wish to let go of some workload because his role would then be 'letgo', so makes himself look very busy and thus indispensible.
  
  There is a confidence gap.


• The manager doesn't have the skills to work closely in collaboration with hispeople and gradually allow them the trust to get on with it and get it right.
  
  There is a skills gap.

Learning that management is about having a clear 'Whats' about the organisationsvision and goals and then enabling individual and team capacity to come up withcreative and delivering 'Hows', is hard for some managers. They are the oneswho complain that there is too much to do; that senior management demands areunreasonable. Giving work up is vital. There is now no knowledge gap.
Management is about letting go of some of the stuff to be done, trusting yourpeople, once given clear criteria and goals and getting on with the true role,developing others, designing growth possibilites and being pro-active and not afire-fighter. Slowly, they get it more and more right. Their results are betterand better. There is now no confidence gap.
Providing all the training sessions in the world, won't make a jot of differenceif the manager is not ready for learning and development. Sometimes,hand-holding works, with the support of a mentor or an off-line coach. Theylearn in a safe place and get better. There now no skills gap.
Gradually, the knowledge, confidence and skills combine to generate a bettermanager, team and business performance. Organizations can take the lead inhelping managers get this right. It is worth it.
Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com