[19 June 2021] Day 19 of fmco* in Malaysia
Yesterday, a friend sent me a link to a Facebook post (someone else’s) that talked about how his company micro-manages them now during the lockdowns. I was amazed at the extreme this company went to micro-manage.
The company had installed a screen activity tracker on the computers that are used by the employees. The system sits in the background and tracks if there are any mouse movement or typing activity on the computer. After a certain period, if they detect that there are none, a window will pop up to verify why they have been idle. The system will ask if they are still on the break or if they want to continue working. And the system will screenshot everything that is displayed on the computer. (Alert: this may have broken some privacy laws if personal data was displayed.)
When I wrote about the invisible leader being visible, this is certainly not what I was referring to. LOL!
Why do people micromanage?
Micro-management involves the close supervision of an employee by a manager. The term has a negative connotation because it stems from distrust and does not promote autonomy. Many are clock-watchers as in the case of using the screen tracker.
There are many reasons employers micro-manage their team members. Fear drives many of the behaviors they exhibit. Here are some common reasons why people micro-manage:
- Loss of control over projects
- Unskilled employees on team
- Belief that work deemed superior to their own may make them look inadequate
- Extreme need for control and domination
- Poor self-image and insecurities
- Inexperience in management
Micro-management is damaging
This distrust damages relationships with your staff. According to Brigette Hyacinth, the long term negative effects on the business are:
- Decreased productivity
- Reduced innovation
- Lower morale
- High staff turnover
If you think you have a tendency to micro-manage, take time to do self assessment. What is the real fear, deep down? Perhaps, it’s not fear but you need to learn how to teach, not tell.
fmco = Full Movement Control Order
About the Author: Gina Phan is a consultant and trainer with Zinfinity Consulting. She currently conducts courses in workplace performance skills. Click here to contact her, follow her on Facebook or connect with her on Linkedin.
#micromanage #micromanager #fear #leadership #management
#trainergina #ginaphan #gp
(Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.)
