Being a manager comes with its fair share of challenges. If you don’t supervise your team enough, they might not produce high enough results. On the other hand, if you supervise them too much and micromanage everything they do, you could end up with a resentful and overworked team. It can be difficult for managers to find just the right balance when it comes to supervising their team. In today’s business world, many managers fall into the micromanager category because the fear of not meeting their goals causes them to take extreme measures to keep track of their team. However, nearly half of employees who work for these managers report not being happy in their jobs. If managers are looking for a solution, they need to stop micromanaging and start macromanaging. What exactly does that mean? Here are some ways that managers can macromanage their team.
Focus on the Bigger Picture
Unlike micromanagers who focus on every little minute detail of day-to-day operations, macromanagers place more focus on the “bigger picture.” They give general instructions about smaller tasks and put more effort into supervising larger projects. They start with the end goal in mind and focus on the vision rather than the production.
Give Employees the Reins
Macromanagers give their employees a chance to impress them by allowing them to take charge of projects and come up with their own solutions. They hire people who possess the right skills and allow them to showcase their strengths and creativity. They don’t hire employees so they can tell them what to do. Rather, they hire employees who can offer ideas to the managers.
Empower Employees
Macromanagers know that in order to be successful, their employees need to be equipped with the right tools and training. They provide opportunities for employees to attend professional development classes, seminars, or training workshops. They encourage their employees to continue building their skillset and they acknowledge their achievements and accomplishments.
They Know When to Step In and When to Back Off
Instead of standing over their shoulders and giving employees all of the answers, macromanagers give employees the tools they need and encourage them to discover solutions. That said they don’t leave their employees out to dry. If the need arises, they know when and how to step in and provide support, but they always give employees a chance to do it on their own first.
They Foster Teamwork
Macromanagement is about cultivating problem solving and creating thinking among your team instead of managing every single task. This doesn’t mean leaving your team to fend for themselves, but rather, promotes and environment where team members work together to help each other. Employees are not expected to complete just “their” tasks. Instead, the tasks should be completed by the team where each employee is responsible for their part.