Do you think that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself? If so, you may be the classic Micromanager and a very counterproductive leader!

Micromanagement leads to several different problems. Not only is it an inefficient way to manage, but it also results in lack of motivation and desire to contribute within your team. It will frustrate your team members, partners or co-founders and the results are often not pretty.

Unfortunately the need to delegate tasks and to step back does not always come naturally, especially when you are emotionally attached to an idea or concept (Startup founders take special note here). The answer however is never to try and do everything yourself. That’s why it’s imperative for all leaders to surround themselves with strong colleagues, be able to let go of certain tasks and allow for collective contribution and creativity.

People around you may not directly tell you when you are being a Micromanager. They may be intimidated by you or fear for their job. However it’s important for you to find out if you are suffering from micromanagement syndrome and to fix it as soon as possible. You may be Micromanager if:

  • You question everything, even things that were already done!
  • You are overloaded with work because you refuse to delegate.
  • You don’t have enough time to get to everything on your plate.
  • You give extremely detailed instruction to your team on how to do things with no room for creativity.
  • When you do delegate, you end up taking tasks back to have it done your way.
  • You actually don’t get things done on time because you are in charge of everything.
  • Your team displays a high level of stress or does not take the initiative to engage at all.
  • You wonder about how everyone else is spending their time, all the time.
  • Your team avoids you! When is last time your team members came to you for a one-on-one?
  • You interfere with when your team members interact with each other, discuss ideas or work with clients.
  • Things don’t get done without your approval. You are the bottleneck.

Are most of these items true about you? Not sure? Ask someone you trust to answer these questions for you, or is that even a hard thing for you do?

Finding out if you are micromanaging and correcting the situation is one of the most important things you can do for yourself, your team and your business. Here are a few major benefits of letting go of Micromanagement habits and becoming a collaborative leader:

  • You demonstrate your trust and respect for your team members and help lift their self-worth.
  • You create a sense of ownership within your team members, increasing self imposed quality.
  • You create time for yourself, allowing for better planning and big picture growth possibilities.

Whether you are Startup founder or a business owner, if you have Micromanagement tendencies, it serves you well to develop skills to delegate tasks and trust others, because the bottom line is that Micromanagement has a very negative effect on your team, your business and ultimately your success level.

If you’d like to learn more about how to battle Micromanagement contact me. The good news is that there are proven techniques to overcome this limiting habits and become a better leader.