I hate micro-management and one of the ways I avoid this is to ask the team “is there anything I need to worry about or should be aware of”.

I’m not poking them, not checking up on them. I don’t run through lists to routinely double-check – they know their role better than I do. But neither am I absolving myself of responsibility or asking anyone to take on more than is appropriate.

At the heart of my question is recognising that while I’m accountable, it’s their expertise that’s going to deliver the goods.

I trust them to work professionally and they trust me to provide a safe environment. We support each other.

There are no ‘gotchas’. No blame.

It’s self-rewarding.