I step out of my car and immediately see her.
She doesn’t see me, but I can tell we’re heading for the same place.
I pick up my pace. (Don’t judge me.)
She has to be at least 80 years old. (I know. It’s getting worse. Just stick with me.)
She’s moving slowly, but I’m farther away.
About ten steps from the finish line (a.k.a the front door of our bank), I break into a light jog. It’s going to be a photo-finish.
Yes, I’m locked into a footrace with an elderly woman.
No, I’m not winning.
And yes—this story does have a point.
One you can take to the bank every day at your own job.
Micromanagement that works
Most people hate being micromanaged, and for good reason.
It’s one of the fastest ways to kill trust, momentum and morale.
Hovering over someone’s work? Draining.
Nitpicking their process? Demoralizing.
So why the recent uptick in pro-micromanagement manifestos?
The CEO of my alma mater, Brian Chesky at Airbnb, is arguably the biggest proponent. He’s been all over the news pushing his concept of “founder mode”, which sounds an awful lot like micromanagement.
I don’t think being deep in every detail works in every situation. But I agree with Brian that micromanagement isn’t the problem, it’s what you micromanage that matters.
“There’s a bad version of being in the details, and there’s a good version of being in the details, and it doesn’t mean that being in the details makes you a micromanager.” - B. Chesky
I’m lucky to work with some of the best leaders out there—founders, execs, and operators running ambitious, high-performing teams.
And the best of the best?
They know there is value in micromanagement.
Just not the work.
They micromanage moments.
The tiny ones. The ones most people ignore.
How you say thank you
How you show up to a meeting
How you respond when something small goes wrong (or right)
These micro-moments shape the emotional feel of working with you.
And that feeling? It has more staying power than even the best quarterly plan or all-hands presentation.
Micromanage one moment per day
When we want to have an impact at work, we often aim big. Land a new client, launch a shiny new product or lead the next big initiative.
But the truth about big wins is they’re not one big win. They’re made of many smaller moments most people never see. These small wins create the conditions needed for the eventual bigger wins.
If you’re looking for a way to have an outsized impact at your job tomorrow, you don’t need to:
Overhaul your leadership style
Pitch a company-wide process change
Launch a bold new initiative
You just need to micromanage one moment.
Here are five micro-moments you can try tomorrow:
Micro-recognition:
Send a Slack message that names something someone did well.
Micro-gratitude:
Offer a thank you that’s specific, not generic. It lands better and lasts longer.
Micro-generosity:
Make space for someone else by giving up airtime, letting them speak first, inviting a voice that’s been quiet.
Micro-spotlight:
Call out a win that didn’t get attention. “You cleaned up that system in the background. No one saw it, but I did.”
Micro-presence:
Pause in your next meeting to actually check in. Ask someone how they’re doing and really listen.
That’s it.
Manage one micro-moment every day.
This kind of micromanagement compounds into big impact and you’ll feel it happening faster than you think.
The real finish line
So now I’m jogging to win a race against an elderly woman who doesn’t even know we’re racing—and what happens?
She wins.
I knew I wasn’t going to get there first, so I had picked up my pace to hold the door for her. (See? Not a monster.)
But this story isn’t about my micro-moment. It’s about hers.
She thanks me for holding the door and stops me the moment we’re both inside:
“You look like you’ve got a lot to do today. Want to go ahead of me?”
I know she didn’t see me in race-mode, so she’s clearly just being kind.
I try to politely decline.
She insists.
“I’m retired. I’ve got all day. You go first.”
I thank her. She won the race and the moment.
That 20-second exchange boosted my whole day.
I’m still talking about it. You just read a whole article because of it.
The next time you feel like you’re ten steps too late for a big win, remember this story.
Look for a moment that matters more than you think.
Try it yourself: Micromanage one moment tomorrow—a thank you, a compliment, a small unexpected kindness.
Not just because it’s nice. Because it’s how the best leaders build the biggest wins.
😂 P.S. A terrible joke, try not to laugh…
What do you call Cardi B running a race?
Cardi O.