How to Be a Thought Partner Instead of a Micro or Absentee Manager 4 | 9

On this episode of the Radical Candor podcast, Amy and Jason discuss managers who have low, almost non-existent involvement in their team’s work, aka absentee managers; those with extremely (maybe excruciatingly) close involvement, aka micromanagers; and thought partners — the ones who empower, enable and encourage their teams to do the best work of their lives. While a lot of us have tendencies to act in absentee or micromanager mode, it’s hard for us to want to look at ourselves that way. Listen to this episode if you want to understand how to be a true thought partner.

Listen to the episode:

Radical Candor Podcast Episode At a Glance

One of the best ways to keep the people on your team engaged is by actively partnering with them.

To help you figure out when you’re being a good partner rather than slipping into micromanagement or absentee management, Kim developed a simple chart to help you better partner with the people who report to you.

Radical Candor Podcast Checklist

1. In order to be a true thought partner with each of your employees you need to be involved, listen with the intent to understand versus respond and ask relevant questions.
   
2. Share what you know and ask questions when you don’t. Remember, a true thought partner thinks of themselves as someone who is alongside their employees listening, advising and helping.
3. What matters is how much your direct reports think of you as a thought partner. Actively solicit feedback from the people who work for you to make sure you are indeed practicing thought partnership versus micro or absentee management.

Radical Candor Podcast Resources

• Are you an Absentee Manager, a Micromanager, or a Thought Partner?
• Micromanagement, Absentee Management or Thought Partnership — Which One Do You Practice?
• Is Micromanaging A Form Of Bullying? Here Are 3 Things You Should Know
• 3 Lessons On Coaching From an Oura Ring
• Help! My Boss is a Micromanager
• Help! My Boss is an Absentee Manager

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