New kid on the block: Top 10 mistakes rookie managers vake.

• Author: Roberts, Julie
• Position: EntrepreneurEdge

Most new managers start their jobs with the best of intentions--they want to share their ideas with their new employees and start making a positive difference right away. Despite these worthy endeavors, new managers still make plenty of career-threatening blunders that can be difficult to overcome. The best way to avoid making mistakes is to recognize them and be prepared. Here are some common blunders to watch out for:

1 Making big policy changes too quickly.

Michael Dash, president and CEO of Parallel HR Solutions, has seen many new managers implement new initiatives hastily and ineffectively because they are "eager to put their personal stamp on things" right away. Instead, he recommends that "new managers should survey the land and assess the company's politics" before they make drastic decisions.

2 Failing to offer specific advice.

New managers frequently care too much about being liked and are therefore afraid to provide constructive feedback to their employees, explains Jeff Herring, chief human resource officer at the University of Utah. For example, if an employee is arriving late to work, some managers will simply say "try harder." But Herring says managers should instead explain to the employee what he or she is doing incorrectly and provide the tools to resolve the problem. Managers should also let the employee know what the consequences will be if the behavior is not fixed.

3 Allowing problems to fester.

Monica Whalen, president and CEO of The Employers Council, says many new managers avoid delivering bad news, which can make troublesome issues even worse in the long run. Managers need to recognize that evasion isn't the answer. "Unlike wine, bad news does not get better with time," she says.

4 Providing only negative feedback.

Managers need to identify and correct employees' problems, but they also need to recognize and celebrate their successes. "You can't just highlight what the employee is doing wrone Herring says. "You have to show what they are doing right."

5 Avoiding tough choices.

Many new managers fear they will make a mistake, so they deflect difficult decisions that later come back to haunt them. Whalen recommends managers sit down, weigh the pros and cons, and analyze the risk. "Be bold," she says. "Move forward and don't look back."

6 Being overly harsh with employees.

Herring says some new managers make the mistake of creating a "draconian and toxic" work environment. As a result, employees focus on how they are...