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The 5 Key Mistakes New Supervisors Make (And How to Avoid Them) Moving from an individual contributor to a supervisor role is a significant shift. You’re no longer just responsible for your own performance—you’re accountable for your team’s success. This transition can be exciting yet overwhelming, and many new supervisors make critical mistakes along the way. In this article, we’ll explore the five most common mistakes new supervisors make and provide practical strategies to avoid them. These insights will help you develop strong leadership skills, avoid common pitfalls, and lead with confidence. Related Read: How Responsibility Changes You: The Psychology of Leadership Mistake #1: Trying

How to Give Feedback That Inspires, Not Demotivates Feedback is one of the most powerful tools a leader has. Done well, it motivates employees, improves performance, and strengthens relationships. However, when done poorly, it can lead to defensiveness, disengagement, and resentment. Many supervisors struggle with feedback because they fear damaging relationships or causing discomfort. But avoiding tough conversations can be even more harmful. Employees need feedback to understand expectations, grow professionally, and feel valued. Related Read: How Responsibility Changes You: The Psychology of Leadership The Key to Constructive Feedback: Care & Intent Giving feedback is like pointing out to a friend that they have food

How Leadership Responsibility Reshapes Thinking When individuals take on leadership roles, their thought processes evolve in three key ways. Moving from “Doing the Work” to “Enabling the Work” Before becoming a leader, success is measured by individual performance. However, leadership demands a shift—leaders must now focus on how well they empower others to succeed. Instead of asking, “How can I complete this task?” effective leaders think: How can I ensure my team has the tools, knowledge, and motivation to succeed? What obstacles might be hindering performance, and how can I remove them? Related Read: The 5 Key Mistakes New Supervisors Make (And How to Avoid