Birds have a strange way of feeding their chicks. They pick food droplets directly into their mouth until they are ready to fly and get their food.
Over the weekend, I saw a video
of a chick that kept opening its mouth to a caterpillar, hoping for the
caterpillar to jump into it. It ran after the caterpillar; instead of striking
and picking it with its beak, It didn't know how to feed.
Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash
This phenomenon resembles how
some businesses run their operations by micromanaging their employees.
Micromanagement naturally
truncates innovation, a sense of ownership among employees and employee growth.
It is why many organizations
would bring someone from outside to take over a role instead of empowering the
people within their organization. While Mircomanageemnt is not a new
terminology, It's a big hassle for a team that wants to innovate.
What is Micro Management?
If you look at Oxford Dictionary,
Micromanagement is the "control of every part, however small, of (an
enterprise or activity)" and people.
Micromanagement is a management
style where a supervisor closely oversees the work of their subordinates, often
to the point of excessive control and involvement in every detail of their work.
This approach can harm employee morale, motivation, and productivity, hindering
organizational innovation and growth.
Micromanagement can cause employees
to lack ownership and responsibility, as they may become dependent on their
supervisor for guidance and decision-making. It can result in a lack of
initiative and accountability, ultimately harming the organization's
performance.
In contrast, organizations that
encourage autonomy, trust, and empowerment among their employees tend to have
higher employee engagement, motivation, and productivity levels. Employees are likelier
to take ownership of their work, feel valued and appreciated, and be more
committed to the organization's success.
Impact of Mirco-management on
Innovation.
Just like the chick in the video
that needed to learn how to feed itself, employees also need to learn and grow
in their roles to become more autonomous and self-sufficient. Organizations
that promote trust, autonomy, and empowerment can foster innovation and growth,
leading to higher employee satisfaction and organizational success.
Micromanagement can have a
significant impact on innovation within an organization. When employees are not
free to experiment, take risks, and make decisions independently, they are less
likely to come up with new and innovative ideas. Micromanagement can stifle
creativity and prevent employees from thinking outside the box, ultimately
leading to the organization's lack of progress and growth.
Similarly, while it was
distressing to see the chick stressed, it is trying to learn and learn from its
mistakes. The bird will eventually develop its skills and become more
self-sufficient by striving.
Innovation is crucial for the
success and growth of any organization or individual. It leads to the development
of new products and services, improved processes and procedures, and increased
competitiveness in the market. Organizations can foster innovation and growth
by encouraging employees to take ownership of their work, experiment, and
explore leadership.
Innovation is critical for organizations
and individuals, and micromanagement can significantly hinder its development.