Nathaniel Seitz | Episode #489
The Team Engagement Podcast, Season 6, Episode 489: Is Your Habit of Micromanaging Eroding Trust?
In this episode, Shawn Richards welcomes Nathaniel Seitz, Founder of Day 91 Solutions, for a conversation about trust, psychological safety, micromanagement, growth, and creating workplaces where employees can succeed beyond their first 90 days.
Nathaniel explains that trust is one of the foundations of psychological safety. While micromanagement may sometimes come from a genuine desire to help, constantly checking an employee's work can communicate that the leader doesn't fully trust them. Instead, Nathaniel encourages leaders to create a "circle of safety" where employees feel comfortable asking questions, admitting mistakes, and sharing what's really happening.
He shares a personal experience that changed his perspective on leadership. After previously working in an environment where he felt heavily micromanaged, Nathaniel joined Lockheed Martin and encountered a leader who trusted him to get the job done. Even when Nathaniel made mistakes, his manager gave him the opportunity to correct them rather than constantly stepping in. That trust gave him room to learn and improve.
When it comes to growth, Nathaniel believes leaders must first be open to change. What worked years ago may not work today, and organizations need to adapt to changing employees, expectations, technology, and workplace priorities. Leaders who remain open to new ideas give themselves and their teams more opportunities to grow.
Nathaniel also emphasizes the importance of rest and continuing to learn. Leaders need to take vacations, disconnect from work, trust their teams to handle responsibilities in their absence, and find opportunities to develop new skills. Growth doesn't have to stop when someone reaches a leadership position.
At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea: trust your people enough to give them room to do their jobs, make mistakes, learn, and grow.
⭐ About Nathaniel Seitz
Nathaniel Seitz is the Founder of Day 91 Solutions, where he focuses on improving employee experiences, HR practices, onboarding, and organizational effectiveness.
His philosophy centers on what happens after the traditional 90-day probationary period. Rather than allowing support and communication to disappear on Day 91, Nathaniel helps organizations create systems that set employees up for continued success. He is also the author of The 91st Day, a story-driven look at the experience of building and running an HR department.
Connect with Nathaniel
Website:
https://www.day91solutions.com
