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Micromanage Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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micromanage

[ˌmaɪ.kroʊˈmæn.ɪdʒ ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

business management

To micromanage is to control and oversee the work of subordinates in an excessively detailed manner. This often results in a lack of independence and can lead to employee dissatisfaction. Micromanagement typically indicates a lack of trust in team members' abilities to perform their tasks effectively.

Synonyms

control, dominate, oversee, supervise.

Examples of usage

  • The manager tends to micromanage his team, leading to frustration.
  • She felt stifled by her boss's micromanaging style.
  • Avoiding micromanagement can boost employee morale.
  • Micromanaging can prevent innovation within a team.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Micromanagement can lead to decreased employee morale because it often makes workers feel undervalued.
  • Studies show that teams perform better when given autonomy, as it boosts creativity and job satisfaction.
  • The anxiety caused by micromanagement may reduce productivity and increase stress among employees.

Business Culture

  • In some industries, like tech startups, there's a trend towards empowering employees by avoiding micromanagement to foster innovation.
  • Leaders often see micromanagement as a way to ensure quality, but it can backfire if it stifles teamwork.
  • Effective management styles tend to prioritize trust and support over excessive oversight.

Pop Culture

  • In movies and TV shows, micromanagers are often depicted as controlling bosses, leading to humorous or tense situations.
  • The term has been referenced in popular books about leadership, highlighting the need for a more hands-off approach.
  • Memes about micromanagement often poke fun at bosses who hover over their employees, emphasizing the negative aspects of this style.

Education

  • In educational settings, teachers who micromanage students' work may hinder their ability to learn independence and critical thinking.
  • Research shows that students thrive when given more responsibility in their projects rather than being closely overseen.
  • Effective teaching involves allowing students to take ownership of their learning, contrasting with a micromanagement approach.

Origin of 'micromanage'

Main points about word origin

  • The word is made of 'micro', meaning small, and 'manage', which comes from the Latin 'manus' meaning hand.
  • It became popular in the business world during the late 20th century as management styles evolved.
  • Originally, to manage referred to handling tasks broadly, without focusing excessively on details.

The term 'micromanage' emerged in the 1970s, combining the prefix 'micro-', which comes from the Greek word 'mikros', meaning 'small', with 'manage', derived from the Italian word 'maneggiare', meaning 'to handle'. Initially, it was used in military contexts to describe a commanding officer who inspected every small detail of a subordinate's work. Over time, it transitioned into the business lexicon to describe a style of management where leaders involve themselves excessively in the minor details of their employees' tasks. The growing emphasis on productivity and efficiency in the workplace has popularized micromanagement, though it is often viewed negatively due to its association with lack of trust and empowerment for employees.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,599, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.