They're never happy with project results, enjoy making corrections a little too much and feel the need to keep tabs on employees and projects at all times. Controlling bosses can be more than just a pain in the neck: they can bottleneck production processes and thwart employee development.
Most of their behaviors align with normal management skills — but the level of intensity does not. How can micromanagers stop themselves before they become less 'boss' and more 'Big Brother'? Follow the four tips from Harvard Business Review below:
- Stop rationalizing controlling behavior. Making excuses for micromanaging will make employees feel like they aren't trusted, eroding overall morale.
- Focus on the big picture. Managers should spend the majority of their time and energy on strategic issues. Delegate the smaller tasks.
- Evaluate final outcomes instead of processes. When assigning projects to employees, talk about expectations and guiding principles. Give employees the autonomy to meet expectations using their own strategies.
- Be confident. Micromanaging breeds a cycle of fear. Bosses who fear their teams can't perform with out them create employees who are afraid or unprepared to perform. Let the team learn from their mistakes and grow to succeed next time.
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