Getting your first management position can be really exciting, but that sought after position can give you some surprises the moment you are hired. Do not be among the many managers who find themselves managing a fast-food chain after graduating with a degree in accounting expecting to hire people and monitor the books, but end up dealing with teenagers handle their first job, calling employees who missed shifts and worse, mopping the floor late at night after rendering a 12-hour shift.

Some people work their way up the ladder and get the managerial spot, while others wake up one day with the position on their laps. There are also some managers who assume the position out of need. But regardless of the reason, every manager has a huge responsibility on their shoulders. If managers are able to execute their job properly, everything else falls into place.

Here are three worst things that a first time manager can do.

Prioritizing tasks instead of people.

When you were still the programmer or the sales representative, it was your job to finish the task assigned to you. Maybe you were once assigned to take care of advertising or to monitor the sales. But now that you are manager, your number one job is to help other people accomplish the tasks given to them in an outstanding way.

As manager, you are responsible for making sure that you get the best work possible from your team. How well you are doing as a manager will be determined by how well each individual in your team performs.

Talking more, listening less.

Any seasoned manager will tell you that the best way to run a team is by listening to them. Try doing a listening tour with your colleagues during your first few days as manager. Go have lunch or hand out with some employees and department heads. Find out what matters to whom, who needs what, and how to help who.

The only way you will know what somebody needs is by hearing him talk. Besides, the most annoying manager to have is someone who never seems to shut up.

Delegating the tasks to the wrong people.

This is the most common mistake that first time managers do. This leads to one of two things: one, the task gets done but with poor quality; or two, nothing gets done at all – either way is bad news for you and your team.

That is why it is important that you know their capabilities and know their strengths and weaknesses first before delegating anything. You have to know what they can do and what they cannot do so that you know what kind of tasks to give them.

Using an LMS is a great way to do training and at a low cost. Choose one that has robust features and is easy to set up and use.

Check out other articles on mistakes made by first time managers.