If you feel a need to micro-manage your staff then you have either hired the wrong people or you need to go get some professional help to find out why you don’t trust the people you hired.
The best way to control events in your organization is to hire great people, train and develop them, be clear about your expectations, give them large doses of free fuel ( appreciation, recognition and encouragement) and let them do what they were hired to do so you can focus on the things you are good at. If you have to micro-manage your team then you might as well just let them go and safe the money.
Five Levels of Delegation from today’s The Globe and Mail newspaper in Calgary, Canada:
1). Do exactly what I have asked you to do. Don’t deviate from my instructions, since I have researched teh options and determined my perferences.
2) Research the topic and report back. After we discussit, I’ll tell you what I want you to do.
3) Research the topic. Outline the pros and cons for each, and make a recommendation. If I agree, you can move forward with that approach.
4) Make a decison and then tell me what you did. I trust you to do the research, make the best decision you can and then keep me in the loop.
5) Make whatever decision you think is best. No need to report back. I Trust YOU.