Seven Communications Mistakes Managers Make
6. Using inappropriate forms of communication
E-mail is great for conveying information, but don't use it for emotional issues; e-mail messages are too easy to misconstrue. If you're squirming while reading an e-mail, leave your computer and deal with the situation in person or by telephone.
At the same time, phone calls and face-to-face meetings are inefficient ways to disseminate information, but great for discussing nuanced issues. You can respond directly to the listener's reaction, and you can use your tone of voice and facial expressions to control your message. "I'm sure you did a great job" could be read sarcastically in an e-mail, but the same words can be delivered sincerely in person with the right tone of voice.
Furthermore, some people are listeners, while others are readers. Listeners won't focus on written memos but are great in conversation. Readers write great memos and are also glad to read them, but conversation sometimes fails to fully engage them. If you talk to a reader or write to a listener, your message might not get through. Don't be afraid to ask people how they prefer to receive information; most people know the answer. If they don't, a little attention on your part will reveal what works best. (And for some people, it's a combination of the two.)
No guarantee that we will get the top spot but not taking the management job will ensure that we will not get the top spot. Either we can live in the comfort zone forever or we can step out and face it. This article encourages me to be prepared the moment to step out being a manager. I think bottom-line is how well I can interact with people. All these mistakes come from lack of understanding that needs real communication. Learn to understand people which is part of the growing process. There will be ups and downs and almost no one who are at the helm has escaped this process. We can facilitate this process by trying