If someone has ownership, when should you check on their work?
Too little involvement can mean discovering problems too late.
Too much involvement becomes micromanagement.
I think the difference is what the checkpoint is trying to achieve.
A useful checkpoint asks:
“Are we still solving the right problem, and do you need anything from me?”
Micromanagement asks:
“Why did you do it this way? Change this. Then do this next.”
The first keeps ownership with the person.
The second gradually takes it away.
A checkpoint can be as simple as:
- Agree on the approach before starting.
- Share an early draft.
- Discuss progress after a meaningful milestone.
- Review the result before it becomes difficult to change.
The important part is that the checkpoint should happen early enough to change the outcome , without requiring the person to get approval for every decision.
The amount of checking should also change with the situation.
A new engineer working on an unfamiliar problem may need frequent checkpoints.
Someone experienced and familiar with the problem may need very little intervention.
So the goal isn’t:
“Never check.”
It’s:
“Check enough to reduce risk without taking away ownership.”
A checkpoint should help someone succeed without making them dependent on you.
