micro-managingvs. MACRO-MANAGING;

Knowing your Roleand Staying in Your Lane

Gerry Kaufman,ASBSD Director of Policy & Legal Services,

Randall Royer,ASBSD Leadership Development Director

ASBSD/SASDAnnual Convention 2019

Finished files are the result of years of scientific study

combined with the experience of many years.

How many fs are in this sentence?

Definition of manage:to exercise executive, administrative,

and supervisory direction of a business

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/management

Micro vs. MACRO

Definition of micromanage: to manage especially with excessive

control or attention to details

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/micromanage

Micro vs. MACRO

“micro-management” is one of the popular labels to attach to ineffective managers. The technical definition is someone who manages to too great a level of detail with too great of a frequency.

Micro vs. MACRO

Micromanagement

Micromanagement occurs when a person in one role tries to assume the functions and responsibilities of someone in another role.

Micromanaging slows or halts momentum and can sap energy by pitting roles against each other.

10 Reasons for Micromanagement

1. Specific roles/jobs are not understood.2. There is not a clear, common vision for the future.3. The board is too narrowly focused.4. Political and personal differences exist.5. Board members see staff as personal

employees.

10 Reasons for Micromanagement

6. Operating norms haven’t been established.7. No process or governance structure is in place.8. No chain of command exists.9. Board members have too much time on their

hands.10.Boards members don’t trust the superintendent.Adapted from NSBA Annual Conference workshop April 2011

You might be micro-managing . .

. . . if what you are doing . . .

1. . . . has to do with the day to day operations of the school district.

2. . . . is part of a staff member’s job description.3. . . . takes a board member out of the chain of command

(communication) as established by your board policy and best practices.

4. . . . should only be undertaken as part of a whole board deliberation, not as an individual acting alone.

Macromanage – 2 concepts1. The manager [school board] takes a

totally hands-off approach2. Managing the managers [in school context, the Board President or other board member, or the Superintendent, managing the school board]

Micro vs. MACRO

Macromanage –or ‘micro-managing’ the opposite direction?

Micro vs. MACRO

School DistrictBasic Structure

Micro vs. MACRO

Macromanagement is the act of leading decision makers or managing the managers.

Micro vs. MACRO

A macromanager directs a system, focusing on the entity and directing it so that the system spontaneously moves to the macromanager’sdefined goals.

The unique aspects of school boards

LegislativeDevelop and Adopt

Policies

Executive

Hire and FireStaff

Judicial

Hold Hearings

Be cautious of crossing the center lineSchool Board Superintendent

Governs: Guides, directs Decides what Requests information Considers issues Creates, review and adopts policy Reviews and approves plans Monitors progress Contracts with personnel Approves evaluation criteria and procedures Reviews and approves budget Represents public interests

Administers: Operates, manages Decides how Seeks and provides information Provides recommendations Recommends and carries out policy Implements plans Reports progress Supervises hiring process and practices Supervises and evaluates personnel Formulates budget Acts in public interest

The Board andSuperintendent Relationship

The Board andSuperintendent Relationship

Another way to look at the same idea

Board Member Role

Clueless Chameleon - [the macromanager]the boss that thinks/says "Hey, I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for, but I'll be sure to hold you responsible when I don't get it."

THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOSSES/BOARD MEMBERS

Missing-In-Action boss – the school board member who regularly comes unprepared to school board meetings, hasn’t reviewed the board packet, may not actively participate when at board meetings, etc.

THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOSSES/BOARD MEMBERS

Meddlesome Micromanager – the board member who wants to know every detail about everything that is going on and then feels the need to try to dictate not only the outcome but the process leading to the outcome.

THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOSSES/BOARD MEMBERS

Wishful Thinker - the boss that wants you to boil the ocean and solve world peace while you're at it, by tomorrow preferably

THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOSSES/BOARD MEMBERS

Tornado - the bull in the china shop type boss, the boss that's intimidating other people in the meeting, or just maybe their personality is very overbearing

THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOSSES/BOARD MEMBERS

Naked Emperor - the boss that thinks all their ideas are great, they come up with all these kooky pie-in-the-sky sorts of ideas, but nobody wants to tell them that they've got a little bit of an ugly baby.

THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOSSES/BOARD MEMBERS

Awesome Boss – the boss who listens and hears what is and what isn’t being said, who listens more than talks, who makes informed decisions based on what is best for the school district, who is highly respected by all, who can be trusted and is trusted, who always comes prepared for meetings, who is humble and doesn’t come across as wanting/needing to be the focal point in any meeting, …

THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOSSES/BOARD MEMBERS

Manage the managers

Manage the managers

Manage the managers

Manage the managers

Elements to Repair/Heal a broken relationship:1. Pull in the reins2. Communication3. Review Structure4. Rebuild Trust5. Back in your ‘lane’

REPAIR/HEAL

Micro-Management vs. Macro-Management: Striking a Balance

Questions?