LEADERSHIP

The Difference Between Toxic Micromanagers and Leaders

What does the micromanager test say about you?

Paul Myers MBA
ILLUMINATION
Published in
6 min readApr 10, 2020

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A solemn-looking manager at his desk — The Difference Between Toxic Micromanagers and Leaders by Paul Myers
Photo by Icons8 Team on Unsplash

Have you ever worked for a micromanager? If so you know how ineffective it can be, for all. It’s a motivation killer in the long run. A leader, on the other hand, can be an inspiring, a truly educational experience.

The problem with micromanagers is that they don't trust others. “They’re typically narcissistic, two-faced, egomaniacal and controlling” (Umoh, 2018).

Micromanagers don’t empower followers to make decisions and drown out independence, whereas leaders are all about autonomy.

This article poses a series of questions to distinguish the difference.

The Micromanager Test

Nobody likes to think of themselves as a micromanager, but if you’re in doubt ask yourself these questions:

  1. Do you work long hours, rarely taking time off, even for vacation? This is a bad sign. An indicator of your inability…

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Paul Myers MBA
ILLUMINATION

Top writer in Business, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Startups & Innovation. Interested in all things E-commerce and more --- https://cdsequine.com