Ever been told not to micromanage your people? Because it
irritates them and is a waste of your time, their time and leads
to bad habits? Well it's all true. If you micromanage your
people in all that they do, it will drive you and them nuts. But
there is a way that micromanaging brings huge benefits to your
management performance.
Getting into the detail of
everything each of your people does, will really damage
your relationships with them. Sure, there are times where their
hand needs to be held, and then there are times when you have to
be sensitive enough to their needs to back off and let
them learn for themselves.
Indeed, sometimes you have to
brace yourself, but that’s how a child learns, from getting
things wrong – so it’s OK to step away and let it
happen.
However, if you have your nose in everyone else’s
work, you are going to have no space to do the managing, because
it will be filled with doing!
It will lose you staff and
exhaust you. You cannot and must not do
it.
So, what's this about, ‘Micromanagement Works’ I hear
you ask?
Well micromanaging works if you micromanage
yourself. By getting into the detail of just what you do, how
often and why, you will find out some nasty dirty habits that
need to stop.
Looking at them from someone else’s point
of view (ask someone, anyone!) sometimes works well - as
does sitting down with yourself and finding out what problems
keep coming up, time and time again.
Then do
something differently - because there is an old adage
that says that 'if you keep doing the same thing, you will get
the same results'.
Micromanaging yourself will ensure
that you really get into the detail of what you need to
change - and then try something new. Watch or even ask others
about how they are successful and give it a go.
The
important thing here is that you might want to checkout the what
of ‘what you do’ and see if it can be improved
upon.
Really dig deep on this one and you will find some
interesting challenges to your existing ways of working - but
you have to be brave and honest about it or you will stay
doing the same, with the same...well, you know the rest, don't
you!
Once you start, you will see more and more little
things you do, that could be changed,
step-by-step.
Starting change with yourself shows
the way and generates an inner belief that you can make a
difference - even with things that have been a challenge in the
past.
|
