Back in the 90’s we were introduced to a metaphor circling in the business world that likened micromanaging your employees to getting your tie stuck in the gears of a machine. Basically if you get too close to the problem, you end up completely enmeshed in it and essentially go down with the sinking ship rather than captaining it to safety.
It’s a good metaphor for business and for life. The hardest time to listen to this wisdom is when we care the most. The more we are invested, the more we care for the people involved the closer our dangling tie gets to the whirring machinery and it only takes a second to get sucked in.
Another nuance to this dynamic is that it is often hard to notice when you have gotten irreparably stuck in a problem. And instead of wisely thinking “I need to cut this tie NOW” you begin negotiating with yourself about how you can still keep the tie, and maybe it’s not so bad…meanwhile your head inches closer and closer to the machine. You need to know when the tie needs cutting! No tie is worth your head.
So what does it take to prevent this from happening? First, be aware that over participation/helping has pitfalls. Second, once you are aware you are in a risky situation, slow down, don’t jump to act or give advice. When you slow down you give yourself time to have a response instead of a reaction. These precious moments can be the difference between losing your neck in the machine and being able to find the off switch.
To wearing a tie clip
