Three good reasons not to give subordinates total freedom

Developing subordinates and giving them the space to work independently and creatively on their own is extremely important. However, as the saying goes: everything in moderation. Giving subordinates complete freedom is good neither for you, nor team productivity, nor the workers themselves. Here are three good reasons why.

Illustration

Unclear vision and direction

As Forbes states, a worker who is not guided in any way and has absolute freedom may suffer from not having a vision of where they are going with their work. One of the main tasks of a manager is to enthuse subordinates for a certain vision or idea and point them in the right direction. If a worker has no boundaries, no specific tasks or a plan of where to go, they will soon become frustrated and their aimless work may never bear the desired fruit.

Accountability

There are certain responsibilities within a team and company hierarchy. Each employee is responsible for completing their tasks and the results of their work. It is the manager's job to lead subordinates. If there is no real management and a worker makes some mistakes, blunders or even stages a boycott, ultimately the manager should be held accountable for this, and rightly so. For that reason alone, the manager should be aware of what their subordinates are doing, set clear boundaries and explain what is expected of them.

Vague expectations and misunderstandings

Poor leadership and an overly lax approach to managing subordinates will inevitably lead to various misunderstandings, assumptions and unclear expectations. The manager does not know what is going on in the daily practice of their subordinates and the subordinates do not know what is actually expected of them. This situation will sooner or later lead to major problems, a drop in productivity and losses within the team or even the whole company. That is why it is important the manager does not give absolute and unlimited freedom to subordinates.



-mm-

 

Article source Forbes.com - prestigious American business magazine and website
Read more articles from Forbes.com