If someone has ownership, when should you check on their work?

Too little involvement can mean discovering problems too late.

Too much involvement becomes micromanagement.

I think the difference is what the checkpoint is trying to achieve.

A useful checkpoint asks:

“Are we still solving the right problem, and do you need anything from me?”

Micromanagement asks:

“Why did you do it this way? Change this. Then do this next.”

The first keeps ownership with the person.

The second gradually takes it away.

A checkpoint can be as simple as:

• Agree on the approach before starting.
• Share an early draft.
• Discuss progress after a meaningful milestone.
• Review the result before it becomes difficult to change.

The important part is that the checkpoint should happen early enough to change the outcome, without requiring the person to get approval for every decision.

The amount of checking should also change with the situation.

A new engineer working on an unfamiliar problem may need frequent checkpoints.

Someone experienced and familiar with the problem may need very little intervention.

So the goal isn’t:

“Never check.”

It’s:

“Check enough to reduce risk without taking away ownership.”

A checkpoint should help someone succeed without making them dependent on you.

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