Stop Being a Micromanager and Become a Better Leader (FULL ARTICLE)

"They" work long hours. Even during weekends.

"They" insist on approving every single thing themselves and struggle to find some time to take a vacation. Not a word about delegating tasks...

I mean, who can do things right the first time, except them?

And, to make sure "they" have full control of every project, they instruct to be CC on relevant emails.

Sounds familiar?

Allow me to introduce the MICROMANAGERS of a workspace. The people that are excellent at what they do, but drive employees CRAZY. (That's me below, when I was micromanaged by my one of my previous employers ??)

What has made them turn from managers into micromanagers?

According to a Harvard Business Review article, it is either because they are having a hard time letting go of their old position after they have climbed the ranks or worry too much over losing touch with grass-roots efforts. Or it could be their insecurity that takes over them, which forces them to feel that they need a high level of control.

Why Micromanaging Damages Business?

Micromanaging hinders the potential and growth of the entire organization. First of all, no top talent can shine in such a confidence-shattering working environment, where they cannot think for themselves. And, although mistakes are an integral part of growing and learning, making them is intolerable. In the end, they either decide to jump ship or fail to reach their potential.

Secondly, having a micromanager doing everybody else’s job brilliantly, but failing to deliver on the expectations of their role cannot help bring development and prosperity to the business.

“Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It's about impact, influence and inspiration. Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work, and you have to inspire team-mates and customers.”

(Robin Sharma)

How to Stop Being a Micromanager

One thing is for sure if you recognize yourself in these lines. You are not alone. We all hide a little micromanager inside us. The good news is that there are ways to break this habit and become a more effective leader for both your organization and team.

·      Take baby steps – Start small and give your team some time to warm up their critical thinking skills. Quitting cold turkey will probably deter you from wanting to change your behaviour.

·      Be open to ideas – Encourage your employees to be part of this change and listen to what they have to say. Their input can be valuable, provided you are willing to consider new ideas coming from your team’s mouths. However, do set a deadline and avoid scrutinizing every idea to the bone. Time to take leaps of faith!

·      Don’t be too metric-focused – Instead of losing yourself in a myriad of measures and metrics, pick a few key KPIs and stick with them.

·      Allow failure – Try to assign some parts of a project to a group or an individual. The idea is to loosen your grip on them (but always be available for guidance upon request) and get more comfortable with the performance of your team. Plus, making mistakes from time to time will help your employees learn to think for themselves.

·      Don’t over-explain yourself – Try to provide only the most critical information when you delegate responsibility. Let employees carry out the task the way they feel best.

·      Use management technologies wisely – Things like time-tracking software and task management software allow you to manage everything from afar, without preventing your team from developing their critical thinking skills.

Your job as a manager is to provide the proper support and the tools your team needs to perform successfully. So, trust the talent you have hired to get the job they have been assigned to and leave them some space to do their work. Ask for your employees’ input and do something with it. That way, you will show that you do value their opinion, which will make them work with high morale and you a more effective leader!

Do you like or hate this article? in any case, share your views below. Micromanagement is a big deal and we all have experienced it in our life.

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