As a business owner, you have probably heard a lot about the problems with micromanaging. In fact, you probably know that one of the most important things you can do to grow your business and boost your success is to learn how to delegate effectively.
But does it ever make sense to micromanage?
There are times that you might need to be more involved with certain projects and times you need to follow up. But how do you know when to micromanage and when to back off?
You Can’t Delegate
First of all, there really are some things you might not be able to delegate. You might need to be in charge of making the bigger hiring decisions. Perhaps you have a specialization that you can call on to boost your business.
There are plenty of mundane tasks available for your employees. From social media management, to scheduling, to payroll and accounting, there are items that others can do. Even putting together a marketing plan or brainstorming ideas can be done without your help in many cases.
Recognize the things only you can do, and micromanage those items while delegating other tasks that others can do just as well.
New Processes and Projects
If you are starting a new process or introducing a new project, you might need to micromanage at first. Anything new probably needs a little attention from you. You need to show your team how you want things done, and follow up to make sure that things are running smoothly and as expected. As your employees get used the new process and as they get moving on the project, you can slowly withdraw and let them do their thing.
Urgent and Important Projects
Sometimes you run into urgent and important projects. When that happens, it’s vital that you take charge. You might need to micromanage a bit to make sure that things get done in the right amount of time and that you hit your deadlines. Sometimes it means rolling up your sleeves and participating in the work, and sometimes it means following up more often just to impress upon your team that things need to get done.
You Need Specific Results
If you need specific results, you might need to micromanage a little bit more. You can be more involved to make sure that the required results are seen. It can be difficult to let others try and get specific results. Getting involved can move the process along and ensure you don’t have to redo the work at another time. Once again, as your team becomes more proficient, you can step back.
Things are Coming Off the Rails
Finally, you might need to step in and micromanage when things are coming off the rails. Pay attention, and if things are getting too far out of hand, get in there and help course-correct. It’s nice to delegate and teach your team to problem solve, but you don’t want to let it get too far off track.
It’s a fine balance, but once you learn when to micromanage and when to delegate, your business will run more efficiently.
