What Leaders Get Wrong About Micromanaging | A Bit of Optimism #Podcast

11 Feb 2025 · 1 min

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Excerpt from a podcast conversation (Lex Fridman interviewing Brian Chesky) focused on micromanagement and leadership. Chesky questions whether micromanagement is inherently bad and distinguishes between controlling oversight and a collaborative partnership—using Jony Ive/Steve Jobs as an example where deep involvement was framed as partnering, not micromanaging.

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A lot of CEOs command and controller because they think that's what works best. I still want to try and understand the nuance of when this becomes micromanagement.
What is a micromanager and is it even bad? I remember asking Jony, I've this question, Jony, I've was the head of design at Apple and Steve was famously in the details. And I asked Jony, I've. I said, did you ever feel micromanaged by Steve Jobs? And he said no. And I said, why? And he said, because he was partnering with me. And so to me, this is the nuance. If I'm not in the details, if I'm not there with you, I can't help you. And if I can't help you, I'm not adding any value. And so how can I help you? It's not about telling you what to do. And that's what I think great leadership can be. It's actually a resource and a partnership. But I think there's a shift that goes from teaching in standards education to actual partnership, where, like, I'm not the expert teaching you, but now we're partnering together and I think that to me is the secret.