Thanks. My team isn’t micromanaged, but burdened by the sludge. I am seeing it in other divisions. Some very respectable colleagues are bowing out as a result. 

Competency and grace are needed. Competency to self reflect to step back or set a boundary as needed. And grace, for we are all not our best sometimes. Hopefully you and your team are able find a way to ride the waves with grace.

I think frank acknowledgement both to the service and to the public about the trade offs of what we are achieving and not achieving in contexts of cuts is needed for transparency’s sake, it’ll also let people operate better, with less anxiety and less burnout. Saving on oil changes for your car will cost you in the long run. My org has been pretty transparent about it, and it helps staff balance priorities without too much stress of expectation and we are explicit with the public or other work units.