6 Simple Tips to Successfully Influence Your Team (without micromanaging)

I had to fight some pretty powerful instincts a few weeks ago.

While working with a colleague (the highly accomplished Sean Lynch) on a project, we realized that we needed to follow up with our client to clarify a few details. Sean mentioned that he was going to send out an email to get the answers. When we hung up the phone, I had a few more ideas on what needed to go into that email. I sat at my keyboard, started typing up my notes to Sean in hopes that he received my email before he sent his out and then I thought … Wait!! Am I micromanaging? Are these notes really that important? Or, is it me trying to control the process? Is it me trying to make Sean be like me? I then weighed some facts: Sean’s amazing. He’s a Yale graduate. The Air Force trusted him to fly jets. Delta Airlines made him responsible for thousands – if not hundreds of thousands – of passengers. He’s been on our team for several years. What am I doing?

I then re-read the email*. Yes! Classic Angie Morgan. Trying to control the process. Ugh. I knew I had to let it go.

It then made me reflect a bit more on how these controlling tendencies have helped – and hurt – me in my life. (If you’d like the complete list, I’ll share my husband’s email address with you.) And it reminded me that when working with a team, there are a few important rules to abide by:

Trust that everyone is trying to do their best
Acknowledge that there are always better ways of doing things
Know that not everyone is like you … and that’s not only okay, it’s great
When coaching, coach to result – not to process (because you don’t always have the best process)
People value autonomy – no one enjoys being micromanaged
Check in with yourself frequently to see if you’re the annoying colleague who wants to micromanage everyone … and, then, stop micromanaging everyone

Self-evaluation is critical to helping you grow and develop as a leader. I’m glad I got a chance to reflect a bit on my tendencies – I highly encourage you to do the same! You can start by asking your trusted colleagues, “What do I do that annoys others?” And if they don’t have a good answer, go to a family member or close friend – they will be sure to enlighten you.

*Sean’s email was perfect – better written than anything I could have done.

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