Why You Should Learn To Micromanage
Somehow, somewhere, the term “micromanage” got a bad name.If you have a team or confident experts, yeah, sure, micromanagement is a poor strategy, but what about the opposite?
How can micromanagement make sense?
If your new hire is low in skill and also low in confidence, you may need to use micromanagement to get them to proficiency.They need job knowledge first, which can require hand holding and frequent check-ins. A high level of accountability and transparency will also help make expectations clear and failures/successes visible.Gaining job knowledge will lead to successful completions of tasks and projects which will lead to opportunities for praise which will lead to increased confidence.To be clear: I’m NOT saying micromanagement is the answer to all management issues, it’s just a tool in the tool-belt of a competent manager.
2 Minute Action
Who is someone on your team or in your life who needs support, coaching, or feedback?Categorize them, here. Are they high or low in confidence? Are they high or low in skill/job knowledge?If they are high in both, consider using a hands-off approach.If they are low in both, consider using a micromanagement approach.
3 Characteristics Of Rock Star Teammates
Stop hiring for specific skills.Hiring this way almost always overlooks the three most important traits of a strong candidate.There are 3 things that good managers hire for.Of course, sometimes, you really do need a highly trained skill set. There's just no amount of positivity that will substitute for an expertly-trained brain surgeon--but unless you need a super specific, high-stakes skill like this, you're much, much better off starting at these 3 traits:
Aptitude
Do they have the ability to learn and execute the skills they need to be successful?
Attitude
Do they make others around them feel confident, capable, and like excellence is possible? No one can sustain this all the time under all circumstances, that's just faking it. We're just looking at most of the time. What's their common thought habit?
Cultural fit
Culture is not the ping-pong table, the nerf guns, nor the Keurig. Culture is how you treat others when it's hard, when you're tired, and when you're frustrated. Cultural fit on a high-performance team is "do you believe what we believe?" "Do you have similar values as shown by your actions?"Finding these three traits will lead to capturing the right people. Training, mentoring, and supporting them are the things that will keep them with you.
2 Minute Action
Quickly list a few traits of your high-performers.What are the characteristics that make them successful? Pick 3-5.Now rank your other teammates on a 10 point scale for each of these 3-5 characteristics.If anyone is below a 6, you should schedule time to identify/discuss and solve this.Reviews do NOT need to be annual. Make it happen, today.
This Will Make You Confident And Optimistic
I was wrapping a bandana around my face in a dusty rural town in the southern part Oaxaca, Mexico.I had never driven an ATV before, but I was about to.I didn't know how to shift gears, work the throttle, or position my weight.I didn't know how much torque would buck me over and I didn't know how much I'd be able to see through the dust.
I got on and fired it up anyway.
There's something cool that happens in these moments--when you don't know what to expect.You get the chance to conquer something.You get the chance to conquer fear or weakness or whatever it is inside you that holds you back from living the life you want.
I hit the gas and figured it out.
In fact, I figured it out pretty fast--faster than I thought.I hit the trails with a few friends and tore up some dust in the woods for the first time.It was such a small win--but that didn't matter. It was another thing I conquered.It wasn't the ATV that I had mastered, it was that part of myself.I had conquered that odd voice that says "don't," "you can't," and "something bad will happen."
I beat it one more time.
And when you have lots of small wins, bigger wins seem more possible.And when you have a few bigger wins, even bigger ones seem more possible.It's the consistent conquering of that inner voice that starts to lead to the thought pattern of confidence and optimism.
2 Minute Action
What's something you've always wanted to do but haven't made the time to make it happen?I'm not saying you have to plan your whole trip to kayak New Zealand right this second, but in 2 minutes you could text a few accountabilibuddies to help you set a timeline and a budget and make something happen.It doesn't have to be a million dollars and it doesn't have to be on the other side of the planet.It just has to be enough to feel like it's outside of your comfort zone.Oh, and FYI:People who set a date and a budget are over 80% more likely to actually follow through with their goals.You can send an email, a text, or make a phone call in 2 minutes.Start small.And then keep going.Nothing bad will happen.I promise.