It is always very rewarding to successfully finish the projects we started. By maintaining constant productivity, it is possible to achieve the goal we initially set. More importantly, we develop our ability to keep proper focus. However, this is not always the case for those who lose their direction midway or those who start projects that are never completed.
Let’s examine what happens when we pay too much attention to small demands and let’s see what makes it so that some are not capable of finishing the projects they started.
Some may say that paying attention to the little details directs us towards excellence. In fact, in several cases, these small details are what makes the difference between good and excellent. Unfortunately, when paying attention to these small details becomes something excessive, productivity is affected.
In the working environment, this excessive activity is known as “micromanagement”. This kind of management regularly generates insecurities, fears and a noticeable reduction in productivity.
In general, those that perform this kind of management:
Focus in observing and fixing small details, most of the time unimportant ones, instead of keeping their focus on the general objective.
- Are afraid of delegating tasks, thinking others will never be able to do it well.
- Reject other people’s initiatives if they are not constantly consulted.
- Wish to know the processes in detail and start to intervene in areas that are not of their competence.
- Continuously question others’ decisions as to not lose control over everyone else or over the projects.
This type of management can occur due to power-craving, inability to delegate or lack of focus.
The consequences in an organization can be catastrophic, going from the deterioration of creativity and innovation, which are essential for growth in the whole organization, to the loss of the best leaders who leave the organization due to the constant pressure under which they must work.
There are ways to improve this tendency towards micromanagement, some very efficient ones are:
- Enrich your perspective with Executive coaching, which I personally believe to be the best option and the one that gives the best results.
- Develop your leadership, wishing the desire to control and supervise to the eagerness to influence and empower others.
- Improve focus on results and not only on the processes.
- Utilize strategies for creativity and innovation, which allow for the development of everyone else’s potential
In addition, an environment is created that demotivates teams due to the loss of creativity and autonomy. Possibly one of the most destructive consequences of any project or teams is the reduced vision of a leader who is focused on the smallest details.
It is no surprise that there is a stagnation of a lot of personal and business projects when there is an excessive focus put on secondary or insignificant tasks. Even less, it should not be surprising to know that a lot of projects are not set forth due to the lack of focus on a strategic vision.
Don’t waste more precious time without taking the correct action. Establish your priorities and improve your personal and business strategy with the help of an executive coach.
Question: Are you focusing too much on the small details?