The opposite of micromanagement: how to tell if your team has too much freedom?

Micromanagement is one of the deadly sins of leadership. But is there such a thing as too little micromanagement? What if you are allowing your subordinates too much freedom? Is this a problem, and how can you actually tell?

Illustration

Failure to meet deadlines  and confusion in priorities

Does it often happen that team members fail to meet their deadlines? This could be a sign they lack leadership or clear prioritisation of tasks. As a leader, you should offer support in activity planning and time-management.

Reduced quality of work

As the Harvard Business Review states, too much discretion can lead to individuals losing sight of the quality standards you expect. While it is important to give people confidence, you also need to inform them regularly of quality requirements and ensure standards are not slipping.

Lack of communication

If the team does not communicate the status of projects or is unable to provide you with regular feedback, it may mean you are relying too much on their autonomy. Establishing regular check-ins or meetings can help keep track of what is going on and the stage projects are at.

Breakdown of team cohesion

When team members work too independently, collaboration and team spirit might be weakened. Overall effectiveness may suffer because individuals are not on the same page and there is no atmosphere of togetherness among them. Regular team meetings or shared projects can help re-establish a sense of cohesion.

Feelings of individual overload

Too much autonomy can lead to people feeling they have to manage everything on their own. If some members are showing signs of stress or overload, they may lack a clear structure and support in decision-making.

 

-mm-

Article source Harvard Business Review - flagship magazine of Harvard Business School
Read more articles from Harvard Business Review