How to Manage Without Micromanaging

When you are serving as a manager, how do you avoid micromanaging those who are supposed to be doing the work or end up doing the work yourself? On the Harvard Business Journal blog, Linda Hill and Kent Lineback suggest the “prep-do-review” technique. Here is a brief summary: 

Prep: Start by previewing people's plans with them and suggesting changes, if necessary. You do this by asking crucial questions.

Do: Based on what you learned in the Prep stage, you can decide whether and how to be involved in the doing of the activity.

Review: Great managers make post-action review a regular practice for themselves and their people. You can make it the focus of a one-on-one after an activity has been completed.

(ljs)