04/04/2024

Don't be a Micromanager

When you’re new to leading a team, it’s easy to become one

Nobody wants to be a micromanager, but when you’re new to leading a team, it is a trap that is easy in which to fall. The pressure to prove yourself to your direct reports while simultaneously delivering strong outcomes to the organization can sometimes result in an overly hands-on leadership style.

I've seen this time and again through my work as a consultant and coach: New managers who are still building confidence and exploring the best way to lead unintentionally develop controlling behaviors, hoping to live up to the expectations of their roles. Unfortunately, these behaviors usually have opposite effect by negatively impacting employee morale and performance.

If you are new to leading teams, and want to check in with yourself — and avoid micromanaging altogether — here are three reflection questions to help you identity, and stop, this behavior when it creeps into your interactions with your team.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Harvard Business Review.