Being a manager used to be a cushy gig. You’d sit in your office, make decisions, play golf on Wednesdays and leave your subordinates to do all the work. But nowadays, being a manager sucks! Here’s why:

You have to be a jack of all trades

As a manager, you have to be good at everything. You must be a good communicator, a good problem solver, a good leader, a good listener, a good mentor and a good decision maker. You need to be abreast of technology and negotiate with four different generations in the workplace. It’s like being a surprise guest on Mission Impossible.

You’re never off the clock

Thanks to technology, clients, employees and your bosses are always a ping away. You’re constantly checking emails, answering texts and putting out fires, even on the weekends.  It’s like being a superhero, but without the spandex costumes.

You’re responsible for everything

As a manager, the buck stops with you. If something goes wrong, it’s your fault, but if something goes right, your team gets the credit. It’s like being the spouse who buys the Mother’s Day gift on behalf of their partner.

You’re constantly juggling tasks

You have a million things to do and not enough time to do them. To top it all, you’re expected to learn and embrace new software to ‘make your job easier’. It’s like juggling with one arm behind your back.

You have to deal with difficult people

You cannot avoid dealing with difficult people – both inside and outside the company, in real life and online. In fact, angry customers demand to talk to you! You’re required to handle complaints, mediate conflicts and deal with people who behave like toddlers. It’s worse than being a referee in a World Cup soccer match.

Oh, and don’t forget those rising targets in a shrinking market!

Fear not! Try these Management Survival Tips:

• Communicate clearly with your team – make sure everyone knows what’s going on and what’s expected of them.
• Prioritise your tasks and delegate when possible – this has the added benefit of developing team skills.
• Listen – try to see things from the other person’s perspective and find common ground.
• Look for solutions – develop a problem-solving, ‘why not?’ mindset.
• Reward and recognition – catch people doing the right things in the right way because their success is yours too.

By following these tips, you can become a more effective and successful manager, and hopefully make your job suck a little less!