Are you into lists? How about Ten Gonna Getchas for Managers:

You’re always the boss. You’re an “in charge kind of person.”  Everyone comes to you with work site problems because you can fix anything. You wear your tool belt at work, home, and in public gatherings. No matter who has the problem, you have the answer.

What can go wrong? Your colleagues pass their work off to you and then get offended when you do it.

You’re everyone’s shrink. You’re the warmest, most comforting listener in the business. Your eyes mist over as you hear about your employees’ worries, frustrations, hopes and desires. You really, really, really want to be there for them.

What can go wrong? You can’t get a lick of work done for all that listening. If the situation isn’t an emergency, and it seldom is, defer the conversation to a more suitable time and place. And don’t be surprised or disappointed when that needy employee finds someone else to talk to.

You just can’t say, “No!” You have an endless capacity to help others. You also have an endless need to be approved of by others. Instead of saying “no”, you answer with the emotional equivalent of “pile it on, I’m not dead yet.”

What can go wrong? You can get buried in all the projects that others are happily deferring to you. You’re still at work long after they’ve gone home. Bottom line: You resent the very thing you have given them permission to do.

You don’t ask questions. You figure that if you act smart, and don’t ask questions, no one will know what you don’t know. And you don’t know a lot.

What can go wrong? Everything. You become so concerned that someone will ask you a question that you begin to withdraw and then isolate yourself from others. That’s a sure fired way to get more attention than you want or need.

You can’t be bothered. You are busy. You are doing seriously important things. You cannot be bothered with other people’s problems.

What can go wrong? Their problems are going to be your problems. Blindside is written all over this one. If you don’t know what the problems are, you won’t know what to do, delegate or defer.

“I’m smarter than you are”. Yes. You are the smartest person walking around. Ask you anything and you know the answer. And if you don’t, you’ll make something up.

What can go wrong? No one is listening.

“Do it for me, please.” You like to play it safe. You learned a long time ago that acting helpless and deferring to others gets them to make the decisions you don’t want to make. No accountability, no blame.

What can go wrong? It’s getting harder to duck responsibility. Once you’re found out, you’re probably going to be out… of a job.

“That’s not my job.” This is my job. That’s your job. Don’t touch my job with your job ‘cause you’ll make a mess of my job.  I get paid to do my job. I don’t get paid to do your job. What is your job? Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.

What can go wrong? What part of TEAM don’t you understand?

You’re all style and no substance. Yep, that’s all you. You’ve got the clothes, the moves, the gift of gab. You can talk with anybody about anything as long as it has a punchline, isn’t too deep and you don’t have to do anything about it.

What can go wrong? Schmoozing and snoozing went out with 3 piece suits, 3 martini lunches and  40 hour workweeks. You’re all style? Go be a model.

You’re all substance and no style. You work hard and keep your head down. You’re directed, dedicated, and determined. You have no time for small talk, meetings, questions, or discussion and easily dismiss those who do.

What can go wrong? Your employees expect more from you than you’re willing to give. They need your insight and involvement in their professional development. Without that, they’ll leave the company for a manager whose style acknowledges their strengths as well as their deficiencies and provides opportunities to improve both.

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Yes! You may use this article by Executive and Career Coach, Joyce Richman, in your blog, article in your blog, newsletter or website as long as you include the following bio box:

Joyce Richman (www.joycerichman.com) has been specializing in executive and career coaching since she started her own practice in 1982. She works in a variety of environments including: higher education, manufacturing, sales, marketing, media, technology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, banking and finance, service, IT, and non-profit sectors. A member of the adjunct faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership, Joyce is certified to administer a number of feedback and psychological instruments. Joyce is a weekly guest on WFMY-TV and the career columnist for The Greensboro News & Record. She is the author of Roads, Routes and Ruts: A Guidebook to Career Success and co-author of Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job. A popular speaker, Richman conducts seminars and workshops throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Her coaching profile can be found at TheCoachingAssociation.com.