The Perfectionists Guide to Managing a Team Without Micromanaging

The Perfectionists Guide to Managing a Team Without Micromanaging My fellow perfectionists, ur lives are not simple or easy (though Im fairly certain no ones is). We have the joy of dealing with our own inner critics all day long, which is exhausting. And if were leading a kollektiv, we have to make sure our critics dont spill out of our heads and on to every one of our team members if we want them to thrive.It takes work, but nothing thats worth it ever came easy. It is possible to tischset up a good environment for your team while youre still working on your own personal growth. Luckily its not an either-or situation. No one wants to be micromanaged. And if thats your go-to move, youll soon find yourself without a team. Heres how to prevent it.1. Repeat after me my way isnt the only way.Because lets be real, its not. Every now and again, there may be a legal or policy reason why something must be done a certain way. But more often than not, its a preference on your part that youre hoping your team will adhere to regardless of how they like to work. It could be time to look in the mirror and ask yourself must it really be done this way, or is it just something that I want? If at the end of the day its all about you and how you want things to happen, your team wont last long. They are intelligent adults with working styles, preferences and ideas of their own. If they never get to flex those muscles, theyll be disengaged and out the door much sooner than youd like. Maybe next time, try asking how theyd krallele it before jumping in with your approach.2. Clarity is the name of the game.Set expectations and be clear. No one is going to be happy with outcomes if they didnt have clarity on expectations from the start. And there are so many factors to consider when it comes to communication. How regularly are you meeting with your teams individually? Regular face time is crucial to building relationships and gaining an understanding of who they are, how they work bes t and how to best communicate with them effectively. When youve walked out of a conversation, does everyone have a sense of who is responsible for what, timing and goals? If not, the team isnt exactly being set up for success and youll inevitably feel like youre losing control and will jump into the weeds when it isnt necessary. There are plenty of methods out there to try in order to impact meeting effectivenessand gain clarity. Find a system that works for you and your team.3. Feedback and accountability are your friends. Its not uncommon for micromanagers to redo the work of their team members. Thats not only a waste of your time, but a missed learning opportunity for that individual if youre not providing them feedback. If something comes back to you and it missed the mark, why not sit down with that employee, explain to them how it could be better and give them another opportunity to deliver. If youre open, honest and go into that dialogue with the intent to help them grow, you never know what could occur with round two. Meanwhile, if you redo it, youll be annoyed and theyll be annoyed. Thats no good for anyone. As the leader, youre there to help them evolve in their careers. Letting them hand in work that isnt up to snuff and redoing it certainly isnt meeting that requirement of leadership.4. Learn to let go.This is easier said than done, for sure. I cant tell you how many times I have worked with managers who say it is easier for them to continue to do something themselves than to invest the time into training someone else. And its that mindset that will keep you doing the same work every day. Its a recipe for boredom. At the end of the day, you are not the best person for every job. And for what its worth, you need to take some time off every now and again. If you hold onto everything, youll not only have an underutilized team but an over-utilized self. Do what you have to do to learn to delegate and hold yourself accountable to that change.Micromanagi ng wastes your time and the time of your team while eroding trust. If youre really looking to help yourself and your team to evolve, while also delivering for the organization, its time to address these issues. What have you got to lose?--Kelly is a philanthropisch resources pro and coach who helps people find and achieve what they want career-wise and beyond. Coaching, training, recruiting if you name it in the world of HR, shes done it in a variety of industries. Her advice has been featured on The Muse, Career Contessa, Workology, among others. Learn more by scoping her out at www.kellypoulson.com.