Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

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If you’re a micromanager, you need to change your ways. You may think you just like being kept in the loop, but micromanaging hurts morale, establishes a tone of mistrust, and limits your team’s growth. Here’s how to break the habit:

o Understand why you do it. Micromanaging often comes from a place of insecurity. To help, think about the reasons you shouldn’t micromanage instead.

o Prioritize what actually matters. Determine which tasks truly need to be done by you. The real work of leaders is to think strategically, not to do their team’s jobs for them.

o Talk to your team. Be clear about when you want updates on their work, so they can help ease your anxiety. Ask them how you can change your behavior to better support them.

o Step back slowly. Tell your employees you trust them to make decisions. And try not to overreact when things don’t go exactly as you’d like.

Adapted from “How to Stop Micromanaging Your Team,” by Rebecca Knight.

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Also, you may wish to check out an anthology, Management Tips from Harvard Business Review, by clicking here.