“The best managers figure out how to get great outcomes by setting the context, rather than trying to control their people.” Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix

Wow, did that resonate with me.

I always knew how important context was in terms of communication, but this is the first time I saw it as it relates to how you manage.

We all have experienced the control management style: constant updates, meetings that seem like the only purpose is to poke holes at what’s going wrong, convoluted ownership structures…all in the name of trying to manage the outcome.

I love this comment because I think great managers explain why and how. Where are we? Why we need to do certain things. What we need to pivot on. Then they just let their people get on with it.

Trust me, I’m a Type A, and a control personality. But I learned in my career you can’t control everything…and in trying to do so, you’ll actually slow everyone down and worse, you’ll make them feel as if you don’t trust them.

What I prefer is the “checking in” approach. No decks. Just a conversation. When it’s time to put pen to paper though, I am all over it. I act like the presenter: I poke holes….”what does this mean? I think there’s a better way to express this”. Sometimes I take over the deck and then send it back if I think I can help someone get there faster.

So next time when you’re in a position managing something…a project, a team….ask yourself if you’re setting context, or if you’re trying to control?