The management field is saturated with misconceptions and myths regarding managers: that leaders are born and not made, that managers always have all the answers and that it’s a show of weakness for managers to ask for help.
There are many management styles and approaches, but leaders must understand the misconceptions surrounding management perception. As one article notes, managers could be either monster managers or Moses managers. While both good and bad managers can impact an employee’s attitude significantly, many in the business world have outdated understandings of what it means to be a manager.
An online Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Management from Avila University can put students on the path to successful management in any industry. In this versatile online program, students will prepare for exciting opportunities as entrepreneurs, business administrators and leaders in commercial or nonprofit organizations. The program’s coursework focuses on human resources, psychology, organizational behavior and diversity while combining general and international business acumen. Knowledge in these areas, as well as management approaches, helps graduates implement effective management practices.
Major Myths About Management
Since many companies and organizations do not formally train employees to become effective managers, those in managerial positions are often left to fend for themselves. New managers are usually expected to learn through trial and error or from those in senior leadership positions who may or may not have the time to mentor. What typically happens is the optimism of promotion to a manager position is often tempered with nervousness and apprehension regarding managing a team of employees.
If new managers have the training and understanding of what it takes to manage well, they can overcome the common myths and misunderstandings surrounding their role. Below are some major myths about management and how to overcome them:
- Managers are born, not made. The “born leader” myth is a long-standing misconception. If people are born with the skills to lead others, then they have nothing more to learn regarding leadership. While many people associate the skills of a leader with personality traits, it takes more than just genetics to make a good manager. Successful managers learn their skills and master their behavior to become effective leaders.
- Managers always have all the answers. A new manager who believes they should always have the right answer will soon experience fear and incompetence. If new managers embrace their vulnerability and weak points and view it as a pathway for positive change, they can use the newness of their position to ask questions and get advice from their boss and others around them.
- Managers need to set outrageous goals to achieve creative solutions. Taking high risks to increase growth or spur creative solutions can destroy value. Optimizing decisions that result in success and questioning assumptions can affect the organization’s overall success. While shaking things up can stimulate creative ideas, constantly setting potentially unreachable goals can backfire.
- Managers should leave the creation of a helpful work environment to their employees. On the contrary, managers are responsible for creating a helpful and encouraging atmosphere in the workplace. Managers who don’t want to get involved with how their employees interact ignore their role of promoting a helpful environment by example. Managers set the expectation of working together, asking for help and reaching out for advice. When they do this, their employees will feel comfortable asking questions and collaborating to be more productive.
How an Online B.A. in Management Program Can Propel Your Management Career
Students in Avila University’s program will gain valuable knowledge from faculty while they create a business plan that incorporates a company’s mission statement with its various sectors in mind: finance, human resources, marketing and sales. The faculty offers personalized attention and is committed to developing a student as a whole person to help them become an effective and compassionate leader.
Learn more about Avila University’s online B.A. in Management program.
