Publications
Publications
- January–February 2021
- Harvard Business Review
How to Help (Without Micromanaging)
By: Colin M. Fisher, Teresa M. Amabile and Julianna Pillemer
Abstract
Extensive research shows that when employees get hands-on managerial support, they perform better than when they’re left to their own devices, but unnecessary or unwanted help can be demoralizing and counterproductive. So how do you intervene constructively? The authors share three key lessons learned during ten years of study: (1) Step in only when people are engaged in a challenging task and ready to accept help; (2) clarify that your role is to offer assistance, not take over the project or judge anyone; and (3) align the rhythm of your involvement to employees’ needs, determining whether the situation calls for intensive guidance in the short term or intermittent path clearing over a prolonged period. These strategies are especially valuable for helping teams that are physically separated, as so many are during the current pandemic.
Keywords
Citation
Fisher, Colin M., Teresa M. Amabile, and Julianna Pillemer. "How to Help (Without Micromanaging)." Harvard Business Review 99, no. 1 (January–February 2021): 123–127.