Editorial
Welcome to Courage Coach, where expert columnist Karin Hurt answers readers' tough leadership challenges with practical tools and techniques you can use right away. Have a question for her? Drop her a line!
Dear Courage Coach,
I’m so frustrated with my team. I believe they care about their work and aren’t trying to do a sloppy job. But there is NO attention to detail. I don't want to micromanage, and frankly, don't have the time to double-check their work. But these mistakes make us look bad to our clients, not to mention my boss. And I'm the only one who seems to find them.
What should I do? How do I get my team to pay more attention to detail without coming across like a micromanaging jerk?
Signed,
Alone in the Minutia
Dear Alone,
Ugh. You’re stuck in that annoying space between wanting to trust your team and feeling like you can’t. I know that feeling of not wanting to look like you’re overreacting to small mistakes, but this pattern is wasting your time and making it hard to trust your team.
Let’s give you some practical ways to dial up the attention to detail without feeling like you constantly need to check their work.
7 Ways to Build an Attention-to-Detail Culture
1. Set Clear Expectations
First, make sure everyone knows what good looks like. You might think, “They should already know this,” but sometimes people need extra clarity. Talk about what meticulous work really means and why it’s so important. Give examples. Get specific.
For instance:
- Before sharing a spreadsheet, double-check all formulas.
- Greet every customer with a warm smile and a genuine offer to help.
- Run your writing through a grammar tool before hitting send.
- If you’re using a template, make sure it’s actually relevant to this customer or situation, and you use the person’s right name.
2. Demonstrate Your Process
Demonstrate the behaviors you want to see. Show them how you check your work, ask clarifying questions and ensure precision in every task.
For example, “When I review a customer communication like this, here are the steps I follow and the questions I ask myself before I consider it done .…”
You can also flip the script and have them walk you through their process.
Talking through a process out loud is one of the fastest ways to help a team member discover a missing step or come up with an idea to improve the quality of their work.
Related Article: Improve Collaboration – and Results – Through Accountability
3. Create Processes and Checklists
Another great way to encourage attention to detail is to create processes and checklists for recurring tasks. Even better, encourage your team to develop checklists and share them.
Of course, you’ve got to ensure these checklists stay up to date — and that your team stays on the lookout for better ways to do things.
Encourage your team to hold regular meetings to discuss what’s working and to suggest improvements. This ongoing dialogue helps them maintain high standards and adapt to new challenges.
4. Use Technology Carefully
Ah, technology — a blessing and a curse. Project management tools, automated checklists, collaborative platforms are all great when used wisely. But watch out for the AI trap. I’ve seen too many managers pulling their hair out because someone relied too heavily on AI and ended up with a mess.
Encourage your team to use these tools as aids, not crutches, and to always double-check the output.
5. Provide Training and Resources
Set your team up for success by making sure they know HOW to focus on details. It’s not just about telling them to be careful; it’s about teaching them the skills and habits they need to avoid mistakes.
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One time-saving trick? Teach them the “check for understanding.” This simple habit — making sure the message sent is the message received — can save you a ton of rework.
Related Article: Don't Leave Teamwork to Chance: Why Collaboration Design Matters
6. Build a Peer Quality Check Process
Here’s a secret: You don’t have to be the only one checking the work. Set up a peer review process where team members check each other’s work before it comes to you. This not only catches mistakes but also builds a collaborative culture where everyone’s got each other’s backs.
Plus, it reinforces the idea that quality is a team effort.
7. Recognize Excellence and Foster Accountability
Finally, don’t forget to celebrate the wins. When someone nails the details, make sure they know you noticed. You’ll get more of what you recognize, and less of what you don’t.
Also, teach your team to hold each other accountable. On the best teams, accountability doesn’t feel punitive — it’s just how they roll.
These strategies will help your team sweat the small stuff, so you don’t have to. Less stress, better outcomes, and a happier you.
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