Micromanagers

"Micromanagers" sounds like a dirty word, doesn't it?

Few of us that have worked for/with micromanagers have enjoyed the experience.

Here are some of the attributes of micromanagers:

• They feel they have to control or be involved in every step of the process.
• They tend to layer reporting requirements on top of already onerous production challenges.
• They often perseverate on the wrong metrics, the micro (and less consequential) stuff, mostly because that's the stuff that's easiest to measure.
• They regularly "burn up" way too much time in called meetings or ad hoc conversations in which they're drilling for information/data that is procurable without pulling the worker bees off task.
• They believe permission trumps production (thus progress).

What kind of employees do micromanagers lose?

• Those who prefer to create and innovate in pursuit of a noble cause.
• Talented team players (who usually drift away quietly).
• Those who care about and prefer to pursue the big picture stuff, not the minutiae.

Maybe it is a dirty word after all.