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Cutting the Puppet Strings: 5 Effective Ways to Reduce Micromanagement and Foster Autonomy?

5 effective ways general managers can reduce micromanagement and foster autonomy at the workplace, to inspire their teams, strengthen trust and drive better performance.
Cutting the Puppet Strings: 5 Effective Ways to Reduce Micromanagement and Foster Autonomy?

Step into the Future with Reduced Micromanagement

General management is like standing at the helm of a ship. Your job is not to row the boat, but to ensure its smooth, efficient, and targeted sailing. But as a general manager, are you doing your bit to prevent rowing yourself? If you’re struggling to maintain the balance between steering and rowing, then welcome to the club my friend, the club of micromanagers. No offense, but micromanagement is viewed as a silent killer for a company’s creativity, innovation, and work morale and we intuitively know it isn’t healthy, so let’s break away from the puppetry strings, shall we?

1. Foster an Autonomy-Driven Culture

To nutshell being a general manager, it’s like being a parent of a teenager. You need to allow them to make their own decisions, make mistakes, learn, and grow. Just like the proverb ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

2. Set Clear Expectations

According to a report by Gallup, only about half of the employees strongly felt that they knew what was expected of them at work. So, dear managers, the mantra is clear - Communicate explicitly and lay out your expectations in a structured manner. But hey, don't just dole out orders, set a stage for shared perspectives and cocreation!

3. Develop Trust and Open Communication

Shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis once stated, 'The secret of business is to know something that nobody else knows.' Well, sorry Ari, but in today’s collaborative work environment, communication, not secrecy, is key. Trust your employees, and they will return the favor. Incorporate transparency and open communication in your system to create a healthy base for a successful future.

4. Use Technology Wisely

From project management tools like Asana and Trello to communication platforms like Slack, today’s technology offers an array of assistance to maintain accountability without practicing micromanagement. So it's time to re-arrange your bookmarks and app dashboard, my friend.

5. Personal Development and Skill Enhancement

Pitched as one of the top motivators for employees, skill enhancements and personal development benefits both employees and the organization. Invest in your team's growth and reduce the need for micromanagement.

In conclusion, reducing micromanagement isn’t about losing control, but about gaining trust, functionality, and more strategic capabilities. So, time to cut the strings and let your team shine!

References:

Gallup. (2020). State of the American Manager. Retrieved from Gallup.com: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/238085/state-american-manager.aspx

Asana, Slack, and Trello (2019). Effective tools for team management and collaboration. Retrieved from their respective websites.

Conant, D. (2019). The Blueprint: 6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights. Wiley.

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