4
Rules on Avoiding Micromanaging
Through Technology
Sea Island’s Director of Spa, Fitness and Racquet Sports Ella Stimpson
shares the rules she adheres to when using email and phones, both at
and away from the office.
“I have found that it is easy to spend most your time as a leader
managing people through emails—instead of leading them through trust.
Because we have a leaner leadership team this year and more on our
plate, we just renewed our commitment to sending as few emails as
necessary and empower those who work with us to do the same,”
Stimpson says.
1. No email on days-off. “I do not expect anyone to answer an email
on their day-off or outside of work hours. I also do my best not to reply
to any emails on my own days-off.”
2. Limit notifications. “I turn off my cell notifications and sounds for
emails and all other reminders, except text and phone calls. This, along
with keeping my phone face down or even leaving it on my desk for
meetings, helps me focus on getting the work I need to do done.”
3. Trust in your employees. “I like being copied on important emails;
otherwise, I don’t need to be copied in the day-to-day details. I trust
that my employees are getting what they need done without my
constant oversight.”
4. Don’t work around your people. “When I direct a question to one
of my managers’ subordinates, I make sure to copy them so they don’t
think I’m trying to run around them. If there is follow-up to do in
general that doesn’t involve me, I expect them to drive whatever I
requested or what I pointed out. If it’s something that needs a direct
reply to me, I will try and make sure they are copied as an FYI.”
F E AT U R E D S O U R C E S
CRISTINA
CRITCHELL KATHERINE
TOMASSO JUDITH CULP
PEARSON LUANE
MCWHORTER
ELLA STIMPSON
Director of Operations
The Woodhouse Day Spa Director of Spa, Fitness
and Racquet Sports
Sea Island
DALLAS, TEXAS SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA
COLORADO ROCKAWAY, NEW JERSEY Content Marketing
Specialist for Wellness
Industry
Judith Culp Creative Copy Owner
Grand Spa DENVER AND LITTLETON, National Director of
Education
YON-KA Paris
EUGENE, OREGON
May 2017
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