Micro Managing, Not So Good Leadership Characteristics by Max Garcia

“During a local security patrol the fourth vehicle was hit by an Improvised Explosive Devise and small arms fire causing injury to four Marines and Mortally wounding the Platoon Commander. Despite his inexperience, while Cpl Buckley's Squad leader was calling in a Medical Evacuation he immediately took charge of the squad and the tragic situation by applying first aid to three of the Marines. Cpl Buckley was able to stop the bleeding from one Marine that Doctors later confirmed would have surely bleed to death had he applied first aid incorrectly. (Fallujah Medical Officer 2004) As the helicopter was leaving with the casualties the company was hit again, this time with incoming mortars. While his squad leader ran to stop the helicopter for more casualties, Cpl Buckley took charge of the Squad and placed them in to a safe position to better defend the company preventing further casualties. Ok, enough motivational leadership stories…
This is only one example of how empowering your junior managers through motivational leadership along with the freedom to make decisions will benefit the whole team. Any leader regardless of billet needs to use initiative and not be afraid to make a decision with out permission from the next supervisor. Likewise, if you are that next person in charge and you don’t leave specific instruction for your subordinate leader when you step away then you have no room to criticize any decision they make unless it is unsafe or unethical. Too often the supervisor steps away for a meeting and the time comes to execute something as simple as scheduling. It never fails, many times the Boss comes back and changes the decision the shift manager made in his or her absence despite the lack of instruction. These daily decisions lead to loss in morale, productivity and more important, loyalty. These types of leadership characteristics are seen far too often. Instead of giving motivational speeches or a pat on the back the senior manager makes the junior managers feel as if their position means nothing.
In my units the most junior Non-Commissioned Officer knows he has my support to make a decision if left with out instruction. Using these leadership characteristics has kept me alive in combat and kept my sanity when over tasked. I have had more than one instance where I forgot to do something and my next man in line was right there to pick up the slack. Had I trained them only to act like robots then certain task would have surely fallen through the cracks due to my forgetfulness. When they cover for me like this I always make sure to give quick motivational speeches to those involved to re enforce their loyalty for next time.
So, the next time you take a vacation and you assume your subordinate leader has “got it”, ask yourself if that person knows he or she has your support to make a decision and exercise their own leadership characteristics. Will you use motivational leadership and support their decisions even if you are not crazy about them? Or, will you step on your “right hand” man causing them to hesitate in the future when you really need them the most. Chief Executive Officers, remember this when giving your motivational speeches to your lower level business managers. In short, let them know you have their back and they will have yours.