What best describes the predominant management style in your organization?

Our reader poll today asks: What best describes the predominant management style in your organization?

• Empowering: Leaders set direction and get out of their people’s way 15.23%
• Balanced: Leaders dig into the details in some situations but are hands-off in others 46.51%
• Micromanaging: Leaders are way too into the details and get in people’s way 23.04%
• Absent: They don’t set direction nor do they know what’s really going on 15.22%

Not much empowerment. Only 15% of you report that your leaders empower their people to take action once a direction has been set. While another 47% balance between empowerment and close management, a disappointing 38% report either micromanagement or complete absence of the leader. For those dealing with micromanagers, that’s a function of trust and control. They manage that way because they don’t trust the outcome or they want things done how they prefer even if there are other ways to do it. To build trust, try communicating more. Update them more frequently on progress. Collaborate on creating solutions together so they feel some ownership but also get comfortable empowering you. For absent leaders, they might be spread too thin or think they’re empowering. Again, help them engage productively. Strategically select interaction points and invite them to be involved. Tell them where they can be most useful and where you need guidance. Help them be better leaders to you. Micromanagers and absent leaders won’t get better through some miracle of telepathy. Tell them what you need from them and ask them what they need from you. Things can be a lot more productive that way.

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 240,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.