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As a business owner, finding the right management style will be one of the most important things you do. Your management technique should benefit your employees and most crucially, your business. Unfortunately, getting the balance right between micro-management and macro-management isn’t always easy.

A true quality of a leader is for them to be able to set an example to their colleagues and employees, no matter what business they’re running. So, how do you this well? Here’s a look into micro-management vs. macro-management and the effects they can have on your business:

What Do We Mean by Micro-Management and Macro-Management?

Managers tend to either be one or the other, but what’s the difference between the two? Well, micro-management is a management style whereby the manager very closely observes the work of employees, often scrutinising work or going over it with a fine-tooth comb. In general, micro-management is frowned upon, and businesses have put specific measurements in place to stop this from happening. The controlling aspect of this management style can cause great levels of distress to employees.

On the other hand, macro-management is where the boss takes a more “hands-off” approach. Though they’re still in regular contact with their employees about their work, employees are free to go about tasks with much less supervision than would be the case with a micro-manager. More businesses lean towards the macro-management approach, though there are still a few who do have micro-managers (much to the employees’ dismay).

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There are pros and cons to each of the methods. A business owner may tend to do more of one than the other depending on: their workload, how many businesses they have, and the size of the company.

Which Is Most Effective?

Without a doubt, macro-management is the most effective management method in any business – in comparison to micro-management; however, there’s little evidence to suggest this is the optimum style of running a company. In some cases, when employees are left to their own devices, they are less inclined to produce consistently good results. This is because expectations are often vague, and employees don’t feel pressurised, or even motivated, to achieve goals. Finding a good balance between the two is the key to a successfully run business.

Juggling Businesses

Establishing a trusted system of hierarchy is paramount for those business owners who have to manage more than one business. If the business was acquired through an entity with commercial bridging loans, you may be one of a few business managers. If this is the case, you must ensure your counterparts are running the business how you foresaw it being run. Similarly, if you’re the only business owner but have a team of trusted managers, it’s your responsibility to give them regular training. It’s likely that across your businesses, you will also have many different departments. It would be impossible for you to macro-manage effectively, let alone micro-manage. Your managers should be well-equipped with the necessary skills to help your business run smoothly and keep your employees happy.
By Paul Matthews

About the author

Paul Matthews is a Manchester-based business writer who writes in order to better inform business owners on how to run a successful business. You can usually find him at the local library or browsing Forbes’ latest pieces.

Featured image via Unsplash.