You may think these terms are only suitable for the workplace, but think about it for a moment.
If our home is our business, and we are the Managing Director, we either choose to micro-manage or delegate every day.
Micro-Managing
The micro-manager finds it difficult to relinquish control. When they occasionally delegate tasks they do so one by one, with specific instructions and will check back regularly to make sure the task is being performed to their high standards - if not, they may choose to do the task themselves, all-the-while muttering martyr-esque comments….
The pros of being a micro-manager
The job gets done exactly how you want it to get done.
The cons of being a micro-manager
Stress - It takes time to issue tasks one by one and check up regularly
Your kids/partner will feel that they can’t be trusted just to do the job.
You may end up with a complete boycott until you lower your exacting standards!!
Complete Delegation
The complete delegator will delegate tasks to the most appropriate person once, with instructions, and will leave that person to fulfill the task the way they see fit.
The pros of being a complete delegator
Each task needs only be delegated once, thus saving time.
Less stress, as you relax your standards and know that everything will get done, and you don’t have to do it all.
Your family will be more eager to help when they can do it on their own terms.
The cons of being a complete delegator
Tasks may not be completed the way you would do it.
Are you a micro-manager or a complete delegator?
(I’m an ex micro-manager seeing the light and advantages of being a complete delegator!)
7 Responses to “Parenting: Micro-management v Complete Delegation”
I aspire to be a delegator (complete or otherwise) however, my tribe have yet to grasp this idea that if I ask them to do sometehing I’d actually like them to do it, preferably this week…. this month would be okay at a push…. I’ve trained Aprilia to sort her own washing though - it’s a start!
Hey Little Mummy,
Over at So Sioux Me http://www.traceesioux.blogspot.com we have high expectations about 5-year-olds helping around the house. But, also we at http://www.blogfabulous.com (one and the same really) are wondering the last few days why this attitude of helping seemed to disappear after the child turned 5? I love being a delegator, but I’m getting a little pissed off that I am talking about my daughter cleaning the living room up for two solid hours and it still isn’t done. Any advice on how you ask ONCE and it gets done?
Tracee Sioux
http://www.traceesioux.blogspot.com
http://www.blogfabulous.com
Am now a reluctant delegator but still battle micro manager instincts. In my case, for micro-manager you can read control freak and critic. That’s 14 months of parenthood for you. It’s broken me. These days, if anyone offers to help, I’m just grateful. In the beginning it had to be me, me, me. No-one else could do it right.
Thanks for participating in the Carnival of Family Life this week. Your post is a great contribution to the Carnival!
Carnival of Family Life…
Everybody likes to talk about their family, especially if you have kids. Sit down, have a cup of coffee and enjoy the informative, funny and inspiring stories, insights and observations offered by the many gifted writers participating in this week’s ….
What a fun way to share this common and daily event. I used to be a big micro manager. I’m not at complete delegation and not sure I ever will be/want to be but the middle sounds better than either side to me!
Hugs,
Holly
Here via the Carnival of Family Life.
[...] If your home is your business, what kind of manager are you? Erica Douglas gives us the advantages and disadvantages of different management styles in Parenting: Micro-management v Complete Delegation, posted at Littlemummy.Com. [...]