Mental Health

Tell-Tale Signs You Are a Micromanager

By Dynne C. | Update Date: Nov 21, 2023 02:49 AM EST

Being a manager is not easy, and it's not for everyone. Of course, it can be a rewarding experience. While we want to do our best at our job, some people in this position tend to overdo it a little, and they unintentionally become a micromanager.

According to a Harvard Business Review report, there are two main reasons why some managers tend to micromanage. First is that they want to feel connected to the coworkers they are managing. The second reason is that they are more comfortable doing their old job than seeing others do it. 

From this, it's easy to see their intent is clean, and they simply want to be good at their job. However, people sometimes get so close to what they're doing that they forget to be objective about it. So how do you know when you have turned into a micromanager? Here are a few signs.

You can't trust your employees

In a study conducted by Breathe, 21 percent of participants regard micromanagement as a reason for distrust. This can go from wanting to be copied to every email, asking employees to get approval for everything to the crass judgment that no one is capable enough to accomplish the task. 

You want to know every little detail

Again, this is connected to the lack of trust in employees. This is harmful to the business because you end up focusing on the smallest details instead of looking at the bigger picture. You want to know everything that's going on on the manufacturing floor, so you constantly ask for an update, which is unproductive for your employees.

You provide unclear and complicated instructions

You have become obsessed with tiny details, resulting in your inability to provide clear instructions. While details are important, you do not need to go into the weeds of how they want to take notes or ask them about every step.  

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