Case Study #14: Micromanagement as One Big Management Flaw

How much control is too much?

What is the biggest sin leaders and entrepreneurs can do?

Micromanagement.

Funnily enough, some people don’t even realize they do it unless someone tells them. But would you? It is not the best news to tell your bosses or clients they should let go. But someone has to do it, no?

Alex was an experienced expert. Yet, he was also chaotic and often micromanaged people. Not because they could not do it. But because he wanted his way.

He didn’t let go even after he was promoted. He kept on being hands-on. He randomly put his nose into things and made people stressed even when things were under control.

He tends to be everywhere and nowhere. Managers who took over his agenda wondered what to do with him. Tell him off or not?

What would you do? Let yourself be micromanaged or communicate openly about what is not working.

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Why do people micromanage?

Micromanagement can have multiple reasons. People are:

• Having an unhealthy big ego

• Obsessive with control

• Afraid of failure

• Inexperienced

• Dominant

• Insecure

From experience, micromanagement often comes from the lack of experience with leadership skills and delegation. Every manager used to be an expert before.

When promoted, you won’t change overnight. You still act like you are used to. You do what you are good at. Not leading but micromanaging on tasks you are familiar with. You don’t want to lose the status and power you built. Sadly, leaders need different skills than experts.

So, micromanagers prioritize tasks instead of strategic planning and work with people. Their common ideas are:

• They are better than others. They are experts. (That’s what Alex thought!)

• They can do a better job than others.

• They tend to overload themselves because they do not want to let anyone in.

• They constantly correct others. They do it with pleasure.

• They believe they have better education, knowledge, and experience than others.

• They want to know what you do and how.

Signs of micromanagement

Micromanagement is excessive supervision and control of others. They check work and processes. They are not willing to delegate anything. They hold decision-making power and are obsessed with information-gathering.

You recognize a micromanager very soon. Such people are overly detail-oriented and pedantic. They criticize you. They won’t let you breathe and do the job as you wish because their way is the only correct way.

Having a micromanager is tiring and demotivating.

Source: happyvalentinesday

Here are typical signs you experience with micromanagers: