Why is Micro Management in Software Development Not A Good Plan?
Micromanagement is the practice of closely monitoring your employees or subordinates as they work to complete the task at hand. They are constantly under pressure because they cannot complete the explicit, detailed instructions that are constantly given to them. It will hinder the ability of the workers to do whatever it takes to complete the projects.
It is one of the many reasons why micromanagement in software development is not a good idea. This management style always stresses out the employees in any field, not just the software development industry. In this article, we will discuss the other reasons that make it frustrating and counterproductive to the industry.
Signs to Look Out For
Micromanagement causes many problems that make work uncomfortable for employees. There are several psychological effects that it can have on employees, such as anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem. People who are micromanaged often feel that their employers don’t trust them or value them. It would help if you looked out for some signs to know whether you are being micromanaged. Check out the following pointers listed.
- Micromanagers avoid delegating tasks to their employees or subordinates and do everything independently because they don’t trust the people working with them to do a decent job.
- They become overly involved in their employees’ work, checking on what they constantly do, making them uncomfortable.
- Asking for constant updates daily and wasting time on making them create detailed reports is one of the symptoms of being micromanaged or a micromanaging boss yourself.
- They are never happy with the employees’ work and always complain.
- They discourage workers from making decisions independently, leaving no room for initiative or creativity.
- They will show no interest in sharing their skills and knowledge with their subordinates.
How Does It Negatively Affect Software Development Teams?
Most people who work in the software industry have, at some point or another, felt the sting of micromanagement. It is a common phenomenon, even though it negatively affects the team. Finding solutions in these circumstances will be easier if you are aware of the drawbacks. Here are some negative aspects so you can learn more about the topic.
- Poor Performance of the Team
- Influences Team Morale
- Influences Team Morale
- Worker Turnover Increases
- Failure in Teamwork
- No Room for Innovation
- More Anxiety and Exhaustion
1. Poor Performance of the Team
Micromanagement can cause poor performance by the team. The workers won’t be able to focus and produce quality work if they are constantly reminded to submit status reports and are forced to walk on eggshells around the manager. It will ultimately result in losing control of the team and affecting the relationship between the manager and the subordinates.
2. Influences Team Morale
Team morale suffers as a result of micromanagement. According to surveys, this management style has had a negative impact on the majority of employees. The morale of the workplace also impacts performance and productivity, so when it declines, the overall quality of work suffers as well. The spirit of your staff will eventually be crushed because friendships are formed and broken.
3. Worker Turnover Increases
It causes an increase in the number of workers leaving the company. They frequently switch jobs, which causes a higher turnover rate. In that case, the departing employees ought to be replaced by brand-new workers. It is not only expensive to hire and train new members of your team if you micromanage, but it is also costly in terms of lost teamwork and flow.
4. Failure in Teamwork
Software teams always work together to solve the problems that arise during the development process. They rely on each other to coordinate their work. But if they are interrupted by the constant check-ins and feedback from micromanagers, it will be hard for them to do the tasks assigned to them efficiently.
5. No Room for Innovation
A micromanaged software team won’t be free to innovate or develop new, more effective ways to complete their work or address customer issues. They will gradually lose interest in thinking outside the box or going above and beyond to complete a task. So, micromanagement makes it difficult for your company to innovate, which is crucial in software development.
6. More Anxiety and Exhaustion
Lastly, micromanagement can lead to stress and anxiety among your team members, causing them to burn out quickly. Developers will wear down over time if their organisation or team lacks morale, productivity, and innovation. It will negatively affect the team’s overall performance, resulting in the loss of skilled and effective members of the developer team.
Practices to Avoid Micromanagement
Micromanagement is a deeply ingrained habit instilled in managerial positions. It will take constant effort and time to stop it completely. So here are some practices to follow to avoid it in the software development industry for good. It will enhance the software development team’s working environment and overall efficiency.
- Make sure to conduct a careful hiring process to identify applicants with the required skills and a good fit for the team, creating a team that doesn’t need to be micromanaged.
- Instead of giving the group step-by-step instructions on completing the project, ensure everyone understands the desired outcome and then trust your team to figure out how to get there.
- Develop a culture of autonomy in your workplace, where team members are held accountable for solving problems rather than following specific directions or doing tasks your way.
- Ensure that the team members working independently have the resources they require to succeed, enabling them to better understand their own working styles.
By following the tips mentioned above, you can create an excellent software development team while avoiding the disadvantages of micromanagement. It will help you reverse the damaging effects of the phenomenon. In this article, we discussed how to avoid it and why micromanagement in software development is not a good idea. Understanding it can help you deal with the situation, frequently leading to a more positive and productive working relationship.
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Hi, my name is Rahil. I work at YUHIRO Global and I help web agencies and software companies from Europe to build developer teams in India.