Are You Micromanaging Your Employees?

As a business owner, it’s important to be involved, but there’s a fine line between managing and micromanaging. If you’re reading every email before it’s sent, overseeing schedules, sitting in on meetings, and asking for daily task lists from your employees, you might be crossing that line. While your intentions may be good, this level of control can leave your team feeling stifled and unable to perform at their best. How can you recognise and adjust this behaviour?

When Micromanaging Is a New Behaviour

If you’ve typically allowed your team to work independently but recently feel the need to oversee every detail, it’s worth asking yourself: what changed?

Micromanagement rarely happens without reason. Perhaps there’s been a dip in performance, or maybe your own workload or pressures have increased. If your employees are making frequent mistakes - like sending emails with typos, missing deadlines, or prioritising incorrectly - your desire to step in may feel justified. However, micromanaging is often a sign that a more direct conversation is needed.

Instead of increasing your control, ask yourself whether your team needs better guidance or additional training. It’s important to address performance concerns with clear, direct communication rather than trying to fix things through constant oversight. If performance has dropped, consider sitting down with the employee to develop a plan for improvement.

For example, saying, “I’ve noticed some mistakes lately. Let’s work together to figure out how we can improve your output and regain trust,” is more productive than simply taking over their responsibilities.

Consider External Pressures

Sometimes, micromanagement stems from external pressures. Perhaps you’re feeling the heat from upper management or your own clients, and in response, you’re tightening your grip on your team. In these cases, it’s crucial to address the root of the pressure rather than turning that stress onto your employees. Having an open discussion with your team about the challenges you’re facing can foster trust and cooperation.

For instance, asking yourself, "What problem am I trying to solve by reviewing every email or attending every meeting?" can help you recognise whether this approach is really necessary or if there’s a more effective solution.

When Micromanagement Is a Habit

Leading a team is challenging, and not everyone naturally knows how to do it well. If you’ve always managed this way, you may not even realise the impact it’s having on your business. Micromanagement can slow down decision-making, damage employee morale, and ultimately harm your bottom line.

If this resonates, consider scheduling a sit-down with your team to hear their concerns. Listen to how your management style affects their work, and be open to making adjustments. For instance, if employees feel that waiting for your approval on every task delays their work, discuss ways to build more trust and allow for greater autonomy.

You might say: “I’ve been more involved in your work lately, but I realise it might be slowing things down. Let’s talk about how we can balance oversight with your independence to improve productivity.”

Finding a Balance

If you rarely make changes to your employees' work, ask yourself whether your oversight is truly necessary. Let them demonstrate their ability to work independently for a set period - say a week - and then re-evaluate.

For example, tell your team: “Let’s try giving you more control over sending emails and running meetings for a week, and then we’ll check in to see how it’s going.”

Providing this opportunity for independence can build trust and encourage your team to take ownership of their roles, which can lead to higher productivity and morale.

Let’s try this week to see how we can do things differently.

Expert Tip: The Power of Feedback

As a small business owner myself, I understand the urge to micromanage, especially when every detail can significantly impact the business. However, one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learnt is the importance of regular feedback from employees.

Implementing structured feedback sessions, or clearly communicating how you'd like to receive feedback, creates a sense of collaboration and trust. This open dialogue can help foster an environment where micromanagement becomes unnecessary, as your employees will be more engaged and accountable.