Micromanaged?
No More.
I’ve met micromanagers.
I’ve been micromanaged.
And hopefully, I never become one.
And if I do, please tell me.
Immediately.
Someone recently told me she hired a social media manager (MANAGER!) and still changed every word, rewrote everything, reshaped the entire thing until it wasn’t theirs anymore.
Another told me her mid-40s boss, who has 0 idea about social media, dictated exactly what to post and when.
This is painfully common in creative industries.
And it is the worst.
Because you cannot be creative when someone is standing over your shoulder.
So I called her out.
Literally.
I said:
“You know they hate when you do that, right?
You have to give them freedom.
Do you know how to do THEIR job better than them?”
She was shocked.
Then…
She reflected.
Micromanaging is babysitting adults.
Some people don’t realize they’re doing it.
Some don’t trust you yet.
Some are control freaks.
They’re not micromanaging. They’re ego-managing.
Your boss didn’t need that report early.
They needed to feel important at 4:55 PM.
Control freaks don’t want results.
They want obedience.
Micromanagement is fear disguised as leadership.
And yes, the classic defense always appears:
“Someone wasn’t doing their job, so more oversight is required.”
Fine.
Try this instead:
“Keep going. I trust you.”
Watch what happens.
People rise when you trust them.
They shrink when you don’t.
What To Do
1. Prevent before you repair
Send updates before they ask.
Document everything.
Over-communicate on purpose.
If nothing improves, quietly prepare your exit.
Not dramatically.
Strategically.
2. Malicious compliance
They want hourly updates?
Perfect.
Give them exactly that.
9:03 AM — Email sent
10:11 AM — Awaiting approval
11:00 AM — Still pending
12:15 PM — Following up
1:30 PM — Checking status
2:45 PM — Gentle reminder
Drown control freaks in the very thing they love.
Control.
3. Give them something to stare at
I once had a boss who wanted a “quick update” every hour.
I said, “You’ll have it by EOD.”
“I just like being looped in,” he said.
So I made a fake dashboard.
A beautiful one.
He loved it.
Never looked at the real one.
Micromanagement is rarely about clarity.
It’s about control.
Give them something to look at so you can actually work.
4. Make them choose
A colleague always gave her micromanager two options.
Even when both led to the same outcome.
The boss picked one.
Felt powerful.
She got her way.
Every time.
Give people fake choices.
Let them feel in charge while you steer.
And always
Finish the task.
Deliver early (with buffer time).
Keep receipts.
“Just wanted to be sure this aligns with your vision.”
Translation:
Relax. I’ve got this.
Choose environments where you can breathe.
Work where ideas aren’t policed.
Grow where your competence isn’t perceived as a threat.
Because the best workplaces don’t suffocate talent.
They unleash it.
Your Next Moves
Comment: What’s the most absurd micromanagement moment you’ve experienced?
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With mine, for a while, i’ve lost my voice. Every email, announcement, decision was proofread and adjusted by her until one day we all sounded the same. Worst experience ever.