Micro Management

Do you create Zombies at work?

I bet you do, if you are someone who adores Micro Managing the team. That's right, Zombies. Mindless automatons that can barely do anything except exactly what they are ordered to do, and even then, only when someone is strictly monitoring what they're doing and how they're doing it. What makes me curious is that if majority of people hate being micro managed why so many managers continue to follow it? Is it the lack of trust? Is it because it takes longer to train employees to do something than it is to do it yourself? I hate being micro managed. So why on earth would I do that to someone else? BANG!!! That's it. May be I don't even know that I am micro managing. Arghhhh!!!!

If I am doing it, I must face it.

Here are few symptoms of people who like to micro manage:

• Resist delegating;
• Immerse themselves in overseeing the projects of others;
• Start by correcting tiny details instead of looking at the big picture;
• Take back delegated work before it is finished if they find a mistake in it; and
• Discourage others from making decisions without consulting them.

Now that we know the symptoms of a micro manager, let’s see what the ways to avoid it are.

"Admit It"

Yes you read that right, the only way to avoid micro management is to admit it. There are people who don't even know what their management style is. Once you know, that you are micro managing, you can take steps towards changing it.

Comparing Two or More Job Offers

"Jobs are back" says a very famous advertisement on television. 

Yes, the Financial Crisis is over, markets are finally seeing an upward trend and the organizations have started hiring. After all the hulla balloo job market is getting better. And just in case you are good enough, you might land up with more than one job offers in hand. Pretty Good, isn't it?

But how to compare the multiple job offers and decide which one to accept. What most of the people look for is:

• Brand Name
• Compensation
• Location Preference
• Job Role

But wait, there are a few more and rather important things to know:

• Variable Pay: Many companies will say “There is a 20% bonus!”  Nice, but what does that mean.  What portion is the company meeting its goals and what portion is the employee meeting his goals?  Do I get the whole 20% or is it performance based?  What happens if you quit (or are fired) mid year?  
• Flexible Timings: Many times, employees have to sit till late in the office to deliver important and urgent stuff. Is there an option that I decide my own timings or at least can adjust as per my delivery schedule. Can I work from home at times. What happens if I work till late one night and end up reaching late the consecutive day
• Health Insurance: This important but often ignored policy is also worth considering. Many companies these days do provide with a health insurance plan. Make it a point to check on this with the company HR/Admin
• The Work Itself: This at times does get a due consideration. You interest in the job being offered to you is of utmost importance. Moreover, don't ignore the challenges, dependencies and the targets involved.
• Professional Memberships/Assistance: Many organizations support the professional advancement of employees. This includes Further Education Assistance and Professional Memberships and many others.
• Time Off/Leaves: Apart from sick, casual and paid leaves; many organizations provide leaves for other family urgencies like parental leaves, wedding leaves, funeral leaves and a few others.

And don't forget that the most important deciding factor of your career is to know yourself and your needs thoroughly.