As a manager or supervisor, you’re likely familiar with the struggle between wanting to control everything as opposed to trusting your team with the work. During these times, it may seem as if only you can accomplish these tasks or no one else can be trusted to do them. So, with that in mind, let’s talk about why leaders should avoid this way of thinking and how you can learn to let go of unnecessary control.
Why You Shouldn’t Try to Control Everything
Save time and resources
One of the most evident benefits of letting go of control is that you save precious time and resources, both for yourself and the company. When you’re not busy micromanaging, you can focus more on the things that matter. In today’s fast-paced industries, this aspect is especially crucial in ensuring you meet deadlines on time.
Boost your team’s confidence
When your staff is stuck with the same menial, repetitive tasks, their motivation is likely to plummet. A good leader knows how to challenge his or her team to help empower them and boost their confidence. When employees have a sense of accomplishment, they are likely to be happier and more engaged.
Make room for learning
Making room for learning means allowing your team to have autonomy and control over their own mini-projects. This motivates them to be accountable for the outcomes. Be Like A Startup editor Warren Tanner highlights how accountability gives workers a sense of control over their tasks, and a heightened awareness of how it affects the company in general.
Tips for Letting Go of Control
Delegate tasks
The easiest way to practice letting go of control is to start delegating more tasks. In our post on ‘How to Successfully Delegate to a Persistent Question-Asker,’ I explained how assigning tasks is not a one-size-fits-all for your employees. While some can “take the ball and run with it,” others need a bit more of your time and attention. For the latter, I recommend viewing the time you devote to them as training, instead of viewing it as an inconvenience.
Trust the experts
Going one step beyond delegating, good leaders know when it’s time to outsource. While it may be nerve-racking to do, seeking outside experts for highly technical tasks or projects is a must for quality results. These can be tasks related to digital marketing, accounting, and especially hiring. In the legal industry, Special Counsel points out how hiring the wrong people can lead to inconsistency and uncertainty, both of which are detrimental to your team’s overall success. Entrusting such complex processes to outside experts who can comb through the best of the best in your industry will save you time and effort, and leave you with a select pool of candidates who are ideal for your open position.
Create space for mistakes
Finally, the best leaders who can let go of control are also able to create space for people to make mistakes. After all, when you make room for learning, you also become open to the possibility of mistakes. An article in INC notes how good leaders handle mistakes by letting others understand what they did wrong. This has the added benefit of building an environment of trust. It is through these mistakes – in tandem with learning – that your team can grow and excel in your field.
All in all, learning to let go of control is an essential step in order to be a leader who promotes both efficiency and growth. As with most personal qualities, relinquishing your need for control and changing your habit of micromanaging can be a long and sometimes challenging process. Expect to grapple with your old beliefs and practices, and take it as a sign that you’re on the right path to better leadership.