Empty office. Just the two of us. Taking care of his business. He looks down. Something's bothering him. Something else. It's in the air. I can't stand it. I'll ask him directly. He doesn't want to answer. Then it'll come out.
"People don't take responsibility." I'm asking him: "Do you give them any?" "I want them to marry her." "Are you a micromanager?" "Yes. And a detailer." "How much do you talk to people?" "Not really, I hope they understand what is being asked of them. And if they don't understand, they'll come and ask. I don't want them to ask that much again. They don't. So I'll sort it out myself in the end. It's quicker."
How do we get out of this? Micromanagement is the road to hell. It destroys people and entire teams. Probably everyone used to slip into some kind of micromanagement at the beginning of their business. It's like having a baby. You raise it, you pamper it, and you constantly check to make sure everything is OK. But as he grows up, he gets annoyed by the constant attention. He wants his space, his responsibility.
How to break your team easily and quickly?
It's the same at work. In the beginning, when you have a few people under you, you can still manage. But as the team grows and the business starts to take off, you just can't do it. You don't keep up with your work and you're always stomping over details that often aren't even important. Obsession with detail often leads to personal failure. Frustration. But your role is different. You're supposed to set goals, values and boundaries.
If you walk around like a cop and check on your people every minute, it's going to start to piss them off. Motivation is lost. Creativity is zero. Why is that?
Simply because your people know you don't appreciate it anyway. So why bother? How do employees feel under the leadership of a micromanager? Like little schoolchildren in front of a blackboard. Waiting to be caught by the teacher again.
Talk, talk, talk. And delegate
What about it? Just communicate and let your people talk. Especially your people. Remember my article, Let Your People Talk? How Milan threw a pitchfork into everything after an hour of discussion? He showed a different but true point of view. And we could start again.
People want to be creative, but they have to be given a chance. They want to have a role, responsibility and competence. It's a simple human trait. If they don't have it, they just don't try.
You're the boss, you're not their mom or dad or the teacher at the blackboard. You follow the main goal. How you get there is up to the team. Delegate tasks and let people find their own way.
Aren't they as perfect as you? Yes, you're not. The mistake is often that as a leader you inaccurately share an idea of what the outcome should be.
Isn't that 100%? Tell us where you see gaps and what the next step could be to get closer to 100%. People learn by doing and need feedback. But one that moves them along and doesn't make them look like a fool in front of a boarded unit.
Don't take the responsibility of others upon yourself. It doesn't pay to be a Samaritan. By rescuing others' troubles, you take away their responsibility again and again, and you go around in circles. A manager's job is to find solutions and direct people. Not to do their job for them, which is what they are paid to do.
Or is your tendency to micromanage a fear that there will be someone better than yourself on the team? And what's that all about? I mean, that's great! Having a star on your team is every coach's dream. At least the results will be perfect. It doesn't jeopardize your position, you manage the whole, not the individual.
What's in it for me?
Apart from time for your own projects? You'll free your hands because you can delegate work to others. You can leave operations to your subordinates, you can focus on development.
Your people will be happier and more creative. Last but not least, they'll breathe better when they don't have a cop on their backs. You'll boost their morale.
And you can go on holiday in peace, knowing that your people will be able to cope.
So what? Are you in? Are you gonna start trusting your people to finally free your hands? Let me know. I'd be happy to help.