Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

I keep running into people who are so focused on the micro that they can’t see the macro. Bosses are famously known as micromanagers who hold onto this mindset. I bet you’ve worked for a micromanager before. They stifle progress because they try doing everything their way instead of allowing others to use their own brains and abilities. They focused on the small stuff rather than the bigger picture, and your team suffered for it, right? 

I define the small stuff as anything that distracts and serves little to no purpose. The biggest excuses as to why people tend to focus on the micro are: 

• It makes them feel like they have achieved something.
• It distracts them from their future.
• It is the only thing they feel they can do with their lack of time.

And the benefits of instead focusing on the macro are:

• It keeps your stress levels at a more manageable level and allows you to live a more peaceful life.
• It allows others to reach their full potential.
• It creates better team cohesiveness.
• It produces a better long-term outcome.

When it has more to do with thinking short-term (the small stuff) rather than long-term (the big picture), that’s a good sign your focus is best spent elsewhere.