Managers have many difficult decisions to make on a daily basis. It’s certainly not an easy job, and it’s one that has many pitfalls if you don’t know how to navigate its problems carefully.
One way in which a manager may think they can avoid problems is by taking the easy way out. However, all that does is make things harder in the long-run.
For example, let’s say an employee comes to you and explains that they feel like they’re being bullied by one of their colleagues. That’s a pretty serious accusation to make and it’s imperative that you follow this up and investigate to establish the facts, support the employee, and come to a resolution that suits all. However, a manager who doesn’t want to face up to such a difficult situation may simply try and take the easy way out, by telling the employee that they’ll keep an eye on things. Of course, in reality they’re not doing anything at all because they can’t keep an eye on everything and continue doing their job at the same time.
It’s vital that as a manager, you don’t attempt to try and side-step problems by choosing a solution that you think is easier than the others. In the end, you’ll only make your life harder and you’ll probably alienate your employees and cause morale to fall drastically. That’s not what you call a successful outcome and it’s certainly not a sign of a good manager either.
Tough times help you to grow and develop as a manager. It’s perfectly natural to need advice occasionally too and in that case, you can seek help from someone you look up to, or perhaps even a mentor. Nobody is ever the finished article when it comes to management and there is always going to be a need to ask for guidance occasionally. Don’t be afraid to do so!
Taking the easy way out doesn’t do anyone any good. Learn to be brave and face problems head on, even if you’re not sure what to do about them at the start. Simply listen, gather the facts, and then seek advice and guidance if you need to. It’s also a good idea to learn to listen to your gut as a manager too, but think everything through carefully before making any solid decisions.