5 ways to kick the habit of micromanaging 

Questions to ask yourself

• Do you believe that only you can do things ‘the right way’?
• Do you struggle to accept the work of your team members?
• Do you tend to ‘let people off the hook’ and redo their work for them?
• Are you becoming exhausted from work overload?
• Are you experiencing feelings of isolation in your professional life?

How to stop micromanaging and empower your teams

Ultimately, professional coaching is the surest way to learn how to let go and allow other people to step up to their responsibilities. Here are some actions you can practice for yourself to help:

1. Divide and conquer

Divide your challenges into two camps: internal and external, and prioritize activities that nourish your internal needs, such as exercising regularly and spending time with family and friends.

2. Embrace self-care

Create a self-care calendar and stick to a “me” regime, no matter how tempting it is to forego personal time for business needs.

3. Work on your relationships

Intentionally develop deeper relationships with an inner circle of confidants at work. Identify individuals you know will be able to assist in mobilizing team members to raise their game and perform at the level you need.

4. Accept help

Are there colleagues who have offered you support in the past, but you haven’t let them help? Watch for your knee-jerk reactions and purposefully allow trusted colleagues to take on more responsibility.

5. Remember the bigger picture

Focus on the bigger picture and your part in realizing the organization’s strategy and vision.