6 Signs You’re Overmanaging Tasks That Shouldn’t Exist

Overmanaging doesn’t always take the form of micromanaging. Often, these are the unnoticed tasks that unexpectedly find their way onto your schedule.

When someone is a silent maker, they care more about their ownership than their schedule. Here are six definitive signs you’re overmanaging non-tasks, and why identifying them is the first step towards making things right.

1. You’re the Default for Small Decisions

You are doing something incorrectly if you feel the need to respond to each and every question. You will likely respond to questions that other people can decide on their own without causing you any inconvenience. Because of this, you find that you are subjected to a continuous flow of interference.

The cumulative effect of this phenomenon is that, over time, you move away from work that is worth more and start to respond to things outside of you. Little things can become habits that take up a lot of your time.

2. Repeating the Same Admin Work

Repeated daily or weekly assignments prove to be the most effective. If you consistently schedule the same appointments, follow up on them, or reschedule them, then you are likely engaging in overmanagement.

This kind of work has been established in the majority of instances because business processes had not yet been implemented. As a result, strategic planning will have to be put on hold, and tasks that are repetitive ought to be delegated or systematised.

3. Acting as the Middle Layer

By having information constantly pass through you, you create unnecessary dependency. You must process all updates, approvals, and clarifications. This kills the eﬃciency.

You go from a point of strategy to an endless chain of transactions. Instead of responding at once, the team will wait for your command to aﬃrm. If you force all tasks to reside in one location, it indicates that they are not in the right place.

4. You Don’t Have the Right Support Structure

The reason there are many overmanaged tasks is that support has not been well defined. In the absence of proper assistance, everything goes to you. This situation often indicates where introducing help can have the most significant impact.

Deciding to hire a personal assistant can eliminate several layers of tasks that do not need to be managed. It can give you time to focus on decisions that truly need your contribution.

5. Solving Problems Before They Reach Others

Broadly, early stepping in can feel beneficial, but it is usually not helpful. You might try to fix problems that you should never be involved with. The long-term consequence of this behaviour is that people learn to escalate issues with you.

This de facto increases your workload while substantially reducing the team’s overall capability. You are the one experiencing the problems, not the team.

6. Managing Tasks Instead of Outcomes

Rather than concentrating on outlining the path, you are charting your progress on the map. This is a well-known pitfall for rapidly growing organisations.

Transitioning from control of tasks to ownership of the results will save you some time. In addition, you will allow other people to take care of the details. The command is more effective when the general is not on the front line.

Letting Go of Tasks That Don’t Belong to You

Overmanaging isn’t massively more effort, but improperly placed effort. Work is unnecessarily heavy, not because it’s ineffective, but because it’s being carried in the wrong places. It is not about surrender but an opportunity to get more significant control. When those extra tasks are taken out, the focus is directed to what remains.

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Adam Regan: Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 7 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com