Micromanagement is good or bad?!!!
Ahmed Wanees
Sr.Director of Commercial Training at Smith+Nephew Emerging Markets | I help sellers to generate profitable growth & coach leaders to Unlock their team’s potential across 105 countries | Medical devices | Pharma | FMCG
79% of people have experienced micromanagement, according to a survey by Trinity Solutions.
When employees work under a micromanager, 85% report decreased morale, and 71% say it interferes with their job performance.
The What?
Micromanagement is a leadership style characterized by excessive control and supervision.
Micromanagers closely monitor minor details of an employee’s work to a degree that hinders the employee's autonomy and creativity, often avoiding delegation.
Impact of micromanagement on Employees especially on Experienced ones & Top Performers:
Micromanagement can lead to stress, anxiety, and despair among employees.
It increases the likelihood of employees quitting their jobs.
When isn’t Micromanagement considered a bad idea?
While micromanagement is generally viewed negatively due to its potential to stifle creativity, demotivate employees, and inhibit productivity, there are situations where some level of micromanagement might be appropriate or even beneficial:
- Training new hires: Inducting new employees requires close supervision to ensure they understand their roles.
- Controlling high-risk issues: Micromanagement can be useful in critical situations.
- Emergencies or crises or during uncertain time: During times of crisis or urgent situations, micromanagement might be necessary to ensure swift and effective response, allocation of resources, and coordination of efforts.
- Inexperienced team members: If team members lack experience or expertise in a particular area, they may benefit from more guidance and oversight until they gain proficiency.
- Maintaining regulatory compliance: In industries with strict regulatory requirements, managers may need to closely monitor operations to ensure adherence to legal standards and avoid penalties.
- Quality control: For tasks that require meticulous attention to detail or adhere to specific quality standards, micromanagement may be necessary to maintain consistency and accuracy.
- Team member request or preference: Some employees may prefer or request more guidance and direction from their manager, especially when they are uncertain about how to proceed or when they are seeking mentorship and support.
Root Causes for Micromanagement and How to Improve:
Causes:
- Desire for control or Insecurity
- Difficulty transitioning: Moving to senior roles can be challenging.
- Lack of trust
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- Perfectionism
- Fear of Failure
- Communication issues: poor communication between manager and his team.
- Organizational culture
Improvement Strategies for micromanagement style:
1. Crucial development of Self-awareness, Acknowledge the issue & ask for feedback from team and peers.
2. Reflect on the reason to identify your route cause.
3. Delegate effectively: Trust your team and delegate tasks with effective 1:1 meetings to provide feedback.
4. Focus on the big picture: Balance attention to details with overall goals.
5. Open communication: Discuss issues openly with staff.
6. Encourage autonomy: Allow employees to take initiative.
7. Lead by Example & model the behavior you want to see in team members.
Remember, effective management involves finding the right balance between oversight and empowerment. ???? Repost this to help others with their career.
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