Just as people prefer to have autonomy in their work-lives, they generally abhor people who try to control them. If you take an unnecessarily controlling approach, employees will be unhappy and unmotivated, and they simply won't want to work for you. Higher-level decision-makers will look at your employees' attitudes toward you when they're evaluating you.

Controlling people too much conveys the message that you don't trust them or that you don't think they're competent; it makes them feel as though they're being treated like children. It also makes you seem uptight and lacking in confidence.

On the other hand, you also have to remember that not all employees like or want autonomy, or do well when they have it. A small number of people want or need to be highly managed. You need to be able to identify these people. There's nothing wrong with asking people how they feel about this, if you feel you need to.

By the same token, new employees or those with little experience are unlikely to...