Managers have an essential role in keeping a team motivated and productive. But how you do that makes all the difference. They say people don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses, and one of the most significant factors for employee dissatisfaction is micromanagement. Being overly involved in your team’s daily tasks is as detrimental as not being involved at all. It’s a delicate balance, and here’s how micromanagement can be hurting your team.
Lowers Employees Morale
Employees who experience micromanagement report dissatisfaction in their jobs. They feel like they aren’t trusted, can’t enjoy themselves, and that their work will be constantly criticized. Employees’ morale will be at an all-time low, and it won’t be easy to recover or even replace employees with that kind of reputation.
Drains Confidence
Imagine this scenario: an employee does a job but not in the way you want them to. When they present adequate results, you emphasize only the parts not done to your specifications. Maybe you redo the work with an “if you want it done right, do it yourself” attitude. This will constantly reinforce the message that your team isn’t good enough, and they won’t have the confidence to bother fixing the problem.
Increases Burnout
Micromanagement is nothing if not frustrating and can lead to increased burnout among employees. If they feel like the work they do is never good enough, no matter how hard they try, they’ll become frustrated and look for other opportunities with a different manager or leave your company for a new opportunity altogether.
Limits Innovation
Probably the most troubling result of micromanagement is the way it restricts creative thinking. The mindset of “that’s the way it’s always been done” can limit ideas that can move the company forward. The truth is, you’ve hired quality employees who are capable of doing the job, and their ways of thinking may improve products and services, so give them a chance to innovate without hovering.
How can you improve your management style and keep employees engaged on the job?
Work with the staffing professionals at The Vision Companies today. Visit our website and talk to us to see how we can enhance your hiring process and work environment!
