Parents, have you ever had a boss who was a micromanager, someone who needed to be kept informed of or outright involved with every step of your work?
If so, were you thankful for their style of constant oversight and for their reluctance to trust you? Did it leave you happier and more engaged? And perhaps most importantly, were you able to sustainably produce your best work?
There’s a reason I have only ever heard people use the world “micromanager” pejoratively—it doesn’t lead to better outcomes or to happier employees.
Now, what type of management style are you using with your teen?
Are you constantly checking their grades online and intervening at the slightest sign of a dip? Are you involved with everything from selecting activities to communicating with teachers to choosing appropriate colleges? Are you spending more time as a manager of their lives than you are as a parent to the human you’re raising?
Some parents may quibble with the comparison and point out that responsibilities as a parent to a child are different from those as a manager to an employee. I couldn’t agree more.
And that’s exactly why if you’re micromanaging your teen, it might be time to consider a different model, one that embraces your role as their parent and diminishes your role as their manager.