This article is an excerpt from our free Essential Leadership Skills Guide: An Introduction to People Management.

Sometimes the difference between being a good leader and a micromanager is a fine line. Micromanaging is when a person excessively controls every aspect and detail of a project. This includes providing frequent feedback, critiques, and reminders. This often erodes the team dynamic and removes individual autonomy, trust, and empowerment.

Here are 10 methods to avoid micromanaging: 

1. Give clear expectations of tasks. This way, team members can work on them without needing you to constantly supervise. Remember, a leader should guide rather than just
acting as a taskmaster.

2. Trust your workers. Give your team responsibility and trust their ability to do their jobs well. Don’t literally or figuratively peer over your team’s shoulders to constantly check that they are working.

3. Offer flexibility. Some of the best professional advancements come from an ‘out of the box’ idea. When such an idea is raised by your staff, or you feel the urge to shut an idea down, shift your approach to one of curiosity instead of critiques. Ask questions and consider your team’s ideas.

4. Be okay with letting things go. Maybe something wasn’t done exactly as you envisioned. Is that really a bad thing? Is their idea wrong? Or is it just not what you had in your mind? Either way, don’t sweat the small stuff.

5. Allow space for growth. Learning is a process, so be aware of growth opportunities and show empathy to your team while they are learning the ropes. Never chastise or poke fun at an error.

6. Have an open-door policy and check in with team members informally. Let employees know that you are happy to help, they just need to ask. This will ideally encourage your team to approach you if they need help, versus you constantly popping by their workspace, which can be uncomfortable and disempowering. 

7. Physically remove yourself. Sometimes even just your physical presence can feel overwhelming. For example, ask yourself, do you really need to sit in on every meeting or can you let someone else take the lead every so often?

8. Have grace for yourself. No one is perfect. So, if you ever feel like you overstepped your authority or were micromanaging someone, acknowledge the mistake, change the behaviour, and move forward.

9. Ask for feedback. Feedback can come in all shapes and sizes (e.g., anonymous employee surveys, a casual conversation with a team member). Regardless, consider all feedback with an open mind, and adjust as needed.

10. Think of yourself as a leader as opposed to a boss. After all, you are there to support, not control.

Interested in learning more? Download the free Essential Leadership Skills Guide: An Introduction to People Management, click here.