Adapting to the nature of the work

Different types of work require different approaches. If you're working on something that involves a certain process that needs to be followed closely, for example, you'll probably need to be more directive and controlling with your employees than if you're doing work where the only thing that matters is the quality of the end product, and where the way you get there isn't so important in itself.

Another case where more direction and control may be desirable is when your people are learning something new and you want to encourage certain best practices that may not be essential to the process but that will lead to better or more efficient work. Once you've shown them how it's done, however, you may need to let them choose how to apply what you've shown them.