Although I typically advocate against micromanagement, I have recently found it necessary to revert to task-based management to support some young leaders on my team who are struggling with end-of-year pressures. Consequently, I have temporarily shifted from delegating autonomy to assigning specific short-term tasks at the start of each week. To keep things on track, I am requiring daily Red/Amber/Green (RAG) status reports, ensuring that I can monitor outcomes closely and push for all tasks to be completed by Friday.
I want to emphasize that this is a remedial measure intended only for when a team or individual is overwhelmed, rather than a sustainable long-term strategy. While it is currently necessary to intervene and direct daily operations - such as leading stand-ups - to ensure deadlines are met, I am aware that getting too lost in these tactical details can obscure strategic milestones. My goal is to stabilize the situation enough to step back and trust the team to operate independently again.
Show notes are here: https://techleader.pro/a/713-Task-based-management-(TLP-2025w43)
Keywords:
Task based management, Micromanagement, Leadership tips, Management strategies, Tech leadership, Engineering management, Struggling employees, Team performance, Project recovery, Daily standups, RAG status reports, Tactical management, Strategic leadership, Delegation, Situational leadership, End of year deadlines, Management styles, Team leader advice, Corrective action, Employee accountability, Tech Leader Pro, Podcast for managers, Leadership development, Managing underperformance, Software development management, Business productivity, Team turnaround, Short term goals, Management training
