One of the great debates in leadership is how much managing is too much. Psychologists argue micromanagement is harmful, saying it stifles creativity, dampens motivation, and reduces productivity.
But some of the greats in business have shown micromanaging can lead to great success. Take Steve Jobs, for example. The former CEO of Apple, who died in 2011 from pancreatic cancer, continues to be revered as one of the greatest leaders in business history, but he’s also among some of the most famous micromanagers.
“He’s a corporate dictator who makes every critical decision—and oodles of seemingly noncritical calls too, from the design of the shuttle buses that ferry employees to and from San Francisco to what food will be served in the cafeteria,” Adam Lashinsky wrote in a Fortune article about Jobs published just about a month before his death.
But Jobs and other business leaders have shown micromanaging works and that it gets a bad rap. In an episode of the Opening Bid podcast with Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi, former Gap CEO Mickey Drexler made the case for this management practice, saying it was one of his major leadership takeaways from working with Jobs on the board of Apple.
Jobs was “unique, once-in-a-lifetime, and [his death] a loss to America,” Drexler said. “He was a difficult person, mercurial, incredibly creative, and made sure the screws on all the products were horizontal.” Jobs also backed a “no-bozos policy,” or hiring people who actually knew how to manage others and get results.
“Micromanaging is what it is. If you’re managing as a leader, set the tone. I’m proud to be a micromanager for what a customer sees, feels, and hears,” said Drexler, who also previously served as the CEO of J. Crew and currently serves as the chairman of Alex Mill. “So yes, I do micromanage, but [also] provide leadership. People know what is important.”
Merchandising mastermind Drexler also previously worked at Ann Taylor, Bloomingdale’s, and Macy’s