Anyone likes a micromanaging manager? No. How about that?

When asked what management style you prefer most job seekers say they want to be trusted and given freedom to perform their duties.  That’s relatable and sounds good in an interview setting. But the idea of total freedom is just not practical. In a euphoric world of checks and balances and workload equality it would awesome if everyone came to work and did what they were supposed to do. But they don’t.

If they did, there would be no need for HR or most management positions. Productivity in this country is in the cellar. At any given moment external forces such as employee health, breaking news stories, sporting event and social media can cost your company millions

No one can control the news, crap happens! But fetishes, vices and behavior habits are controllable and employees cost organizations billions (that’s with a B) of dollars annually.

Social media surfing | Smoking | Obesity | Disengagement

All 4 are productivity vampires sucking the blood and money right out your organization’s veins.

Let’s be honest, there is someone at your office that does nothing all day as much as possible. I can recall my corporate days, in every place I’ve ever worked there were slackers and now the stories from clients who take new positions are just scary. Not having clearly defined roles and duties, not having anything to do and everyone hides out in their offices or cubes all day, pretending to be busy until quitting time.

There is this “thing” out there that unemployed people are lazy and do nothing all day which is surprising and hypocritical coming from a nation of unproductive workers. The office gig is cover for laziness and entitlement.

What some examples? Okay.  Here is a news report of TDOT worker’s sleeping on the job in plain sight. And here is an article on city code enforcement officers using company vehicles to waste away the day. Trust me folks it’s not a regional problem, it’s a national problem.

Bringing this on home; it would be awesome if we didn’t have to monitor employees. Of if we didn’t have to administer performance evaluations but we kinda do. Not everyone is a high performer, hell not everyone is even a mid-level performer, that’s way you gotta watch them, just a little bit.

See I don’t want to be micromanaged either, but I don’t mind progress reports and status updates…you know accountability. I even like performance evaluations when they are accurate (that’s another article for another day).  But with so many ways for employees to be distracted at work (did I mention office romances?) an employer must monitor employee behavior and habits; internet usage, smoke breaks, social media surfing, network congestion, employee engagement and performance.  Sorry but you kinda need to be micromanaged.