Feel like you’re doing everything while your team waits around? That’s not leadership—it’s micromanagement in disguise. And it’s draining you.

Micromanaging shows up in subtle ways:

Constant check-ins, rewriting your team’s work, and feeling like nothing gets done unless you’re involved. The result? You’re buried in tasks, your team’s disengaged, and your calendar is chaos.

It’s time to ditch the weeds. Here’s how to rise above:

1. Recognize the micromanagement signals

Micromanagement doesn’t always announce itself with a bullhorn. Sometimes, it’s in the little things:

You’re checking in so often your Slack thread looks like a play-by-play.

You rewrite your team’s work instead of giving feedback.

You give step-by-step instructions like you’re hosting a cooking demo, even when your team could figure it out.

If your day is a blur of status updates, “quick fixes,” and doing instead of leading, that’s a red flag. It’s not about being a bad leader—it’s about being stuck in the weeds. Recognizing the signs is the first step to getting out.

2. Shift from control to clarity

Micromanagement thrives in confusion. If your team’s unclear on what success looks like, they’ll either freeze or flood you with questions. And then? You end up stepping back in and doing it yourself.

Instead, give your team a crystal-clear picture:

What’s the goal?

What does “done well” look like?

What are the non-negotiables?

Clarity gives your team confidence and frees you from being the bottleneck. Think of it this way: your job is to set the vision, not direct traffic all day.

3. Delegate smarter

Delegation isn’t just handing off a to-do list—it’s transferring ownership.
Here’s the simple formula:
Outcome + Authority + Check-in = Real Delegation

Outcome: What’s the end result they’re responsible for?

Authority: What decisions can they make without checking in?

Check-in: What’s the rhythm for updates or progress reviews?

When you delegate like this, your team steps up because they’re trusted, not just tasked. And that changes everything.

4. Set up a feedback loop

If you’re chasing people down for updates, something’s broken. You need a rhythm—not a rescue mission.

A solid feedback loop might include:

Weekly 1:1s (focused on outcomes, not activity)

Quick self-assessments from your team

Automated progress reports (tools can help here)

When your team knows when and how to report in, they don’t need to ping you all day—and you can stop feeling like the human progress bar.

5. Start small

You don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Just pick one thing this week that’s been living rent-free on your plate—then fully delegate it.

Yes, fully.
That means: explain the outcome, give them the authority, agree on a check-in, and then… let it go.

Don’t circle back. Don’t “just check.” Let your team take it to the finish line—even if they do it differently than you would. (Spoiler: That’s how they grow.)

Micromanagement steals your energy. Leadership multiplies your impact. Want a clear roadmap to make the shift?

👉 Book a Game Plan Session with me today and I’ll show you how to step out of the weeds—for good.