Understanding micro-management:
Micromanagement is a process at a more specified level. In this scenario, the manager pays close attention to the process of getting work done. They take care of quality assessment, deadlines, feedback, and any immediate issues with work.Β They pay more attention to short-term goals than the long-term ones.
A micro-manager asks questions like these:
- Is the work getting done as per the set standards of quality?
- Are the deadlines being met and feedbacks exchanged?
- Is healthy communication happening between team members?
Understanding macro-management:
Macro management is when yourΒ boss or supervisor looks beyond your daily superficial and obvious activities each day. They delve into the depths of your weakness and strengths, your capabilities and shortcomings, and take measures to direct your best qualities for the betterment of the company. They are even responsible for designing business strategies and utilising the workforce accordingly as per their talents and capabilities. This is macro-management.
A macro-manager asks questions like these:
- What are the long-term goals of my employees?
- Which skills does each one of them need to brush up on a personal level?
- Which is the best department for each employee according to their caliber? Are they placed in it or elsewhere?
- Are my employees happy with their job?
- What can I do to improve their performance?
Which one is better?
Both types of management have their own pros and cons. Speaking of short-term goals and daily tasks, micromanagement is the most ideal one. With this, you can keep a close eye on the immediate actions of your team and supervise their work to every minute detail.
On the other hand, macro management gives you a birds-eye-view on your team. You continue to supervise over them but from a larger view. You learn to channel their efforts and energy into the something productive each day. As far as achieving long-term goals are concerned, macro management takes the cake.