Are You Micro-Managing Yourself?

Thanks to Steven DeMaio for putting this in the Harvard Business Review. It's a good tool for some self assessment. Here's what he says:

• Don't lose sight of the big picture, even when doing grunt work. The classic micro manager tends to zero in on details right away. Doing that in your own work will make it feel like drudgery. Don't lose sight of your tasks larger purpose.
• Avoid mid-stream self-correction, especially on the first run through. Your first session on a project should be your longest. Give yourself the chance to experience the full arc of the endeavor. Don't start tidying up a little corner before you've built the entire structure.
• When you can't delegate entire tasks, delegate micro decisions. Micro managers have trouble delegating. But there are times when a quick consult with a colleague can help you move forward on something that would otherwise bog you down. "Am I on the right track here?" is a good question.
• Recognize that micro work has its place. Not micromanaging doesn't give you permission to embed your work with small mistakes or imperfections. Continue to be fastidious about the details. The bad type of micromanagement is often the result of impatience, but the good type requires patience.

I find that the mid-stream self correction often leads to loosing focus on the goal. The project gets muddled and, without correction, often fails.