How to recognise if you are a micromanager: four tell-tale signs

Few managers would willingly admit to being a micromanager. Not even those who really are as they themselves are unaware of the problem. If you tend to micromanage your subordinates, they will usually not tell you to your face. So how do you know whether or not you might be a micromanager? Here are four signals that will help you with self-diagnosis.

Illustration

This text draws on an article published on the TED.com website.

Signal no. 1: Many items await your decision

A micromanager is often a bottleneck of processes and decision-making in the team because many things require managerial approval. If this is your case as well, it might be a sign of micromanagement.

Signal no. 2: Productivity of subordinates plummets and you do not know why

Employees led by a micromanager are demotivated, frustrated and unproductive. If the productivity of your team is declining, despite the fact that objectively everything should be fine, pay attention to it.

Signal no. 3: You take part in virtually all the meetings that affect your team

Is your diary full of meetings? Do you have no time to work because you participate in every meeting related to your team? Do you have to be present at all the meetings of your subordinates with key people at the company or with clients? If so, you need to ask yourself whether it is really necessary.

Signal no. 4: Delegation of work to subordinates is awkward and slow

Delegation of work should be effective, quick and trouble-free. Is this a problem in your team? If so, it may be caused by your explaining in too much detail what your subordinates should be doing, instead of giving them sufficient room to deal with tasks on their own.

 

-mm-

Article source TED.com - TED is a nonprofit devoted to "Ideas Worth Spreading". 
Read more articles from TED.com