Do You Lead or Micromanage?

6 Symptoms of a Micro-manager

There might be a fine line between detail-oriented leadership behavior and overly obsessive and controlling behavior. Yet, it’s a line no-one should want to cross. Why?

Crossing that fine line means turning into a micromanaging boss that drive everyone crazy. But let’s face it, vast majority love living on the edge, walking on the fine line and experimenting with exciting new methods.

Overall, 7 out of 10 people admit having to put up with annoying micromanagement. Some suffer, some complain, others leave. But a whopping 91% of team leads are unaware of employees leaving due to their micromanagement behavior.

Although team-members can quite easily recognize micromanagement, managers rarely view themselves as such. Not a surprise there.

How to improve something you’re not aware of?

First, you reflect on your behavior and then you improve. Here are 6 quite common symptoms you should be aware in order to avoid micromanagement.

6 symptoms of a micro-manager:

• Being control-obsessed — having an urge to constantly check co-workers progress.
• Avoiding delegation — feeling no one could do a better job.
• Dictating everything — writing pages long task descriptions.

• Suffering from reportomania — requesting overly detailed reports.
• Focusing on details — correcting tiny details before seeing the big picture.
• Discouraging independent decision-making.

Read the full Lead or Manage blog post to discover some surprising statistics and cures for the symptoms.