How to Let Your Employees Spread Their Wings

Alright, buckle up, citizens of the world, because I want to share one of the banes of every employee’s existence: micromanagement.

Some might think, “Hey, what’s wrong with a little extra supervision?” Well, let me tell you, micromanagement is like putting training wheels on bikers who are ready to ride on their own.

You might avoid some scrapes and bruises, but you must learn to balance and pedal independently. For example, imagine trying to cook a delicious meal, but your boss stands over your shoulder, critiquing every move you make: “No, no, not like that; first, you must chop the vegetables like this. And why are you using that pan? You should be using this one.” You got so nervous that you burned the food and lost your appetite, and well, now you can experience what it feels like to be micromanaged.

“Micromanagement is the destroyer of momentum.” ― Miles Anthony Smith

Not only does micromanagement waste time, but it is also one of the most common signs of a bad manager or leadership; it also kills creativity and morale faster than you can say “team-building activity”. Feeling confident in your work is hard when you’re constantly second-guessed and corrected; it’s like trying to run a marathon with ankle weights; it’s tough because you need more confidence to feel passionate and motivated.

And let’s remember the poor supervisor who’s doing the micromanaging; let’s talk about their thankless job: they’re constantly hovering over their employees, ensuring everything is done; it’s like being a helicopter parent, but for adults — no wonder they end up burnt out and frazzled.

I have one piece of advice to all supervisors: trust your employees. You hired them for a reason, right? So let them spread their wings and fly. Sure, they might make mistakes, but that’s how they’ll learn and grow. And who knows? They might even surprise you with their skills and ingenuity. Tina Fey once said, “You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.” So let your employees go down the chute, and watch them soar, but the most important…

… let’s transform all the micromanagement into supportive leadership for better workplaces.

In this leadership style, a supervisor doesn’t simply delegate tasks and receive results but instead supports an employee until the task’s completion. Supportive leadership will increase employees’ morale, motivation, and productivity; Doing it, you can promote a positive work environment where employees feel valued and empowered, and it will result in higher job satisfaction and retention. Additionally, supportive leaders can help develop their team’s skills and abilities, contributing to the growth and success of the entire organization.

Thanks for reading! This post was published originally on Medium.