Micromanagement doesn’t work! Laissez-faire doesn’t work either! Micromanaging creates employees who are either frustrated or scared to make a decision. Neither one is a positive, and nobody wins! The employee loses, the organization loses, and the citizen (customer) loses. Laissez-faire leaders create frustration and inconsistency in their followers. Again, everybody loses!

What type of leader are you? It’s a hard question to answer, especially when the only person you are asking is yourself and nobody else. I dare you! Be brave enough and ask someone what it’s like to sit across from you. Prepare yourself for their response and do not defend yourself or try to explain anything. Your reaction to their answers should tell you a lot about yourself.

If you’re not willing to ask yourself the hard questions about yourself then you have no business trying to “fix” anyone else. Find the path forward, and that starts with understanding where you are on the leadership journey. If can’t lead others is you can’t lead yourself.