No One Likes a Micromanager

When otherwise trustworthy staff members make mistakes — and let’s face it, they will because they are human — leaders often fall into the trap of micromanaging their activities out of a lack of trust that they can do the job right. While the leader may think this increased scrutiny aligns with their dedication to the organizational mission, affected staff members can become hesitant to innovate and feel smothered by incessant monitoring and tracking of everything they do. Instead, provide helpful feedback, training and resources that can help them avoid mistakes going forward. Let staff know that you trust them, you have their back, and you’re there to support their improvement. Your best employees will appreciate the support and become more mindful of meeting your standards.

A great leader responds to errors constructively rather than suspiciously.