Alltech reposted this
At Alltech, we've always believed that leaders create leaders. That’s why we prioritize investment in training and time with our global team. There is power in presence, but there is a fine line between being engaged and micromanaging. My sister, Dr. Aoife Lyons, was a champion of Alltech’s culture, helping to cultivate an environment that values and empowers people. With her expertise in neuroscience and human behavior, she designed the psychometric assessment we still use today to recruit talent that aligns with our values — a process our father fondly referred to as “The Aoife Test.” Aoife’s belief was simple: our team members are the driving force of the company, and they deserve to be trained well, trusted and empowered. We also believe that the two most important words in our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty® are the first two, and that collaboration — whether it’s with colleagues, partners or other industries — is critical if we want to reach our big, audacious goals for a more abundant world. In an article from Psychology Today entitled "When Supervisors Supervise the Supervision of Supervisors," (https://bit.ly/4cIqs9S) the negative impacts of micromanagement are evident: it does more harm than good. Micromanagement isn't just a frustrating leadership style — it’s damaging. Studies show that micromanagement lowers morale, kills productivity and increases turnover. Worse still, it fosters a culture of distrust, creating a cycle that suffocates creativity, innovation and autonomy. On the other hand, managers should not be completely laissez-faire, either, as the article “How to Help (Without Micromanaging)” from Harvard Business Review (HBR) explores. (https://bit.ly/4d0uLgZ) The HBR team has been studying this subject for more than 10 years, talking with team members of several companies and conducting a large-scale qualitative study and behavioral experiments that have yielded important insights. The article offers the following tips on how leaders can give their team members the assistance they need without undermining their sense of efficacy and independence: Time your help wisely: Rather than intervening early, effective leaders wait until their team members recognize the need for help. Assistance is more welcomed when people have already faced the challenges of a task or project. Clarify your role as a helper: Clearly state that you are there to assist, not to judge or take over. This fosters trust and encourages team members to take interpersonal risks in a supportive environment. Adapt your involvement to needs: Tailor your support based on team members' specific challenges. Complex or creative tasks may require intensive short-term guidance, while others benefit from intermittent assistance over time. Question for you: How do you foster autonomy within your team? P.S. If this message resonates with you, share this post and give me a follow. ♻️ #PlanetofPlenty #AlltechONE