No more micro-managing | How a minimal leadership style can build staff engagement

Michael Horvath, the Co-Founder and CEO of fitness app Strava, recently told Inc.com’s podcast that he’s dramatically shifted his leadership style as his company has expanded. The San Francisco-based company has grown rapidly since its launch in 2020 and now has four offices round the world and more than 400 employees.

“I can't run it the same way I did when we were 50 people," he said. "The biggest difference in my style is relying on my team."

In reality, this means no micro-managing, he told inc.com. Instead, when Horvarth meets with an employee, he lets them lead the conversation by asking them for their ideas and perspective. He told Inc.com that the whole point of hiring talented people who believe in your company mission is to let them drive it forward, not hold them back by limiting what they can do.

“Ask that question of ‘What's on your mind? How do you see it? What would you do next?’” he said. “It's an opportunity for them to go way beyond what you were thinking would be the best next move.”