If you are anything like me, you HATE to be micromanaged. It’s demotivating, isn’t it?

But are YOU a micromanager? And if you are, do you even know it?

Here, according to The Harvard Business Review, are six warning signs.

•  You’re never quite satisfied with deliverables.
•  You often feel frustrated because you would’ve gone about the task differently.
•  You laser in on the details and take great pride and /or pain in making corrections.
•  You constantly want to know where all your team members are and what they’re working on.
•  You ask for frequent updates on where things stand.
•  You prefer to be cc’d on emails.

Yes, the devil is in the detail, but if you are applying the same level of intensity to every task, you need to stop. Because it’s harming your team’s morale and ultimately their productivity. More than that you are stunting their development and creating an organizational vulnerability when you are away.

Here’s four way’s to STOP micromanaging.

1. Get over yourself

You can rationalize your behaviour until you are blue in the face. Here’s some excuses that mirco-managers use and what they really mean. Sound familiar?

2. Let it go

Let go of the minutia. This can be hard but try a little at a time. Instead focus on just the big ticket items where you can add value

3. Give the what, not the how

There is a world of difference between having an expectation about a deliverable and dictating how to get that result. So articulate what the final outcome should look like, but don’t give blow by blow instructions of how to get there. When in doubt, share the what and then ask (rather than tell) your team member how they would plan to get there. Different approaches to yours can often yield excellent results.

4. Expect to win

Underpinning your need to micromanage is your fear of failure. By magnifying the risk of failure your employees enageg in learned helplessness where they can only function if you micro manage them. A vicious cycle ensues.

Instead set your team up for success. Explain what success looks like. Provide the resources needed to meet those conditions. Over time, you’ll see a loss every now and then helps build a strong track record in the long run.

 

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