Micro-management is not a villain It’s such an alternative way for software development

I used to strongly believe that no body want somebody control them behind their chair. It’s too unsatisfied and depressive so I promised when I could have a team, I would not rather do it to my subordinate

Everyone can boost up their power up with freedom to think to do and to estimate the time.

This is a half-truth

I would rather to share you the experience how I used the micro-management to my team.

I was experienced in a large company for 2 years in position of tech lead This large company provide many technology solution such as large scale of software and they emphasised for best practise which I really love it.

Here, there were a lot of talent developers. I could run my team very easily. Not only tech lead but also I held scrum master position. I just did grooming, planning and running all scrum process. Our team could take their responsibility impressively. They could achieve the job without any following up from me

An about a year ago, I got the new job and I realised that would be able to spread my knowledge from my formal company.

My first challenge was our team almost didn’t know that they were writing unpractised. It was not their fault but yes, it was my challenge to accelerate their skills and their mindset. I still used my way(no micro-management) to handle them, coaching them like a football team, estimate time line and let them show their ideas. I even let them manage the team by themselves and empowered Senior developers to leading the team

Three months ago, the team is failed.

Our team delivered low quality softwares, a lot of bug came in, overdue deliver task, rack of talking and bra bra. Our team were losing their passion they even took sick leave many often about two times every sprint. Somebody did not update or follow their task. They did not even didn’t know what is the result should be. They turned into the robot completely. I realised that my management way is not suit for the team.

And unfortunately, a big project came in . The timeline was extremely tight when especially when our team was unsteady like this. I had no much choice and could not let it failed. I started reuse the micro-management which I hate it. And this is how I survived this situation.

Firstly, I assigned the task one by one to everyone. I separated the project into small piece to fit for one person in a day. This was very hard to fair assign to everyone. Somebody had less tasks but rather somebody were overload.

Secondly, I followed up the tasks hourly. This is extremely micro-management and drained my power. I asked them almost every hour. Everyone in the team felt pressure but at lease they knew I’m serious.

Thirdly, I stopped weekly planing instead I plan day to day work and let assign one by one part by part.

Finally, our team could survive the cruel time line and delivered it on time. It ‘s not perfect work. A few bug still remained but anyway, we still alive and that is enough.

Here is pros and cons

Pros

• Achieve the goal and reduce risk of failure
• Prove the responsibility

Cons

• An amount of task is not fair for everyone
• Exhausted
• Confuse and could not plan in advance