Need help with Micromanagement

[Yao777]

I seem to have trouble on figuring out what to do with my workers to maximize their efficiency. Normally, I just build what would be best for the tile (Ex: Mine on a hill, Farm on a plot of corn, Cottage just about everywhere else) but I'm not sure on roads and such. I've noticed that one of my cities will just be booming as far as production goes yet another is just so stagnant and I can't figure out why. I also for example, build a cottage then a road back to back with the same worker to make sure my cities are connected with resources and such. Can I get a little help with how to maximize my workers' efficiency?

 

[lebowski]

I primarily let them automate. Every now and then they don't do what I would like (head to another city even though the one they are at needs work) but they do a good job.

I think it goes without saying roads are an extremely important improvement.They speed up movement thus increasing work completion times. You mention cottages several times, why not build something else?

I feel your pain on the ying yang cities. I've had some cities in great locations(or so i thought) that are extremely slow growth.

 

[Yao777]

The problem is when I automate the workers they cut down all my trees and waste so much time building roads in every square rather than doing something a little more important like mining some iron. If someone could just post a screenshot of how their cities look with road infrastructure and such it would help so much. But I appreciate the suggestion lebowski and I may try automating once again while keeping a watchful eye on their tree chopping.