Is Micromanaging Cool Now?

Or is it like shopping at The Gap?

Micromanaging is almost universally seen as a very bad thing.

But Mickey Drexler, former CEO of Gap, recently said that no less than Steve Jobs reminded him that “micromanaging is OK.”

While some managers might shy away from getting caught up in details, former Apple board member Drexler runs toward them.

“I’m proud to be a micromanager for what a customer sees, feels, and hears,” he explained. “I micromanage, but I provide leadership. People know what is important.”

I wouldn’t take this as gospel truth. It’s situational.

There should be a balance between control and autonomy in any organization, which I will admit can be tough to navigate sometimes. Jobs’ deep involvement in product development worked exceptionally well at Apple because his visionary drive inspired teams to achieve groundbreaking innovation. But that doesn’t mean his style is replicable—or even desirable—in all contexts. As I’ve observed in my work with CEOs, the art of leadership lies in knowing when to lean in and when…