Is This Micromanaging?
<p>An <a href="https://hbr.org/2023/09/the-anxious-micromanager" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">HBR piece on micromanaging</a> has been making the rounds lately. Well, at least it has been promoted heavily. It got me thinking about the tension between directing and empowering when leading.</p>
<p>A story that I heard some years ago featured the designer Calvin Klein and his instructions for how to prepare his coffee. Full disclosure: I met Calvin back in the day though I can’t attest to the veracity of this story. Nice guy; brilliant designer. However, I still think the story is instructive.</p>
<p>The story holds that in the kitchen in the Calvin Klein offices, there is a small color chip inside the cabinet over the coffee maker. Think about the paint chips you see at the hardware store though this was more likely a chip from the <a href="https://refinepackaging.com/blog/what-is-pms-color-pantone-matching-system/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Pantone Matching System</a> (PMS) used to ensure color fidelity across media. My PMS binders of chips were prized possessions when I was a creative director. Sorry, I digress. The PMS chip showed the exact color of a perfectly prepared cup of coffee for Calvin.</p>
<p>When I first heard this tale, micromanager flares shot into the sky. “What a diva” to want his coffee with exactly this much cream (or milk). Wasn’t close enough good enough? It’s coffee, not the Mars probe.</p>
<p>The answer was a) Of course not. You don’t get to be a world-renowned designer by accecpting good enough; and b) This was actually astute standard setting.</p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/@RicherEarth/is-this-micromanaging-5766214a654e"><strong>Website</strong></a></p>