micro manager
Watches every keystroke
A micro manager is a supervisor who exercises excessive control over subordinates, scrutinizing minor details rather than delegating.
The term is pejorative—it suggests distrust and inefficiency: My boss is such a micro manager that she reviews every email before I send it.
The verb is micro manage; the practice is micro management.
Sometimes hyphenated or written as one word.
Overseeing people or processes
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- directiveFormal command or instruction
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- domineeringAggressively asserting control
bossy · dictatorial · commanding · intrusive · interfering · demanding · autocratic · heavy-handed
Chronic occupational depletion
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- tensionStretched or strained state
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
exhaustion · frustration · pressure · demoralization · resentment · distrust · disengagement · turnover
Focused on small elements
- perfectionistOne demanding flawlessness
- thoroughComplete in every detail
- preciseExactly correct, no error
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
nitpicky · scrupulous · conscientious · exacting · methodical · systematic · analytical · punctilious
Constriction limiting throughput
- counterproductiveHindering intended outcome
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
delayed · overcomplicated · wasteful · disempowering · slowing · bureaucratic · redundant · time-consuming
supervision
Overseeing people or processes
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- directiveFormal command or instruction
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
domineering · bossy · dictatorial · commanding · intrusive · interfering · demanding · autocratic · heavy-handed · hovering
burnout
Chronic occupational depletion
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- tensionStretched or strained state
fatigue · exhaustion · frustration · pressure · demoralization · resentment · distrust · disengagement · turnover · attrition
detail-oriented
Focused on small elements
- perfectionistOne demanding flawlessness
- thoroughComplete in every detail
- preciseExactly correct, no error
fastidious · nitpicky · scrupulous · conscientious · exacting · methodical · systematic · analytical · punctilious · particular
bottleneck
Constriction limiting throughput
- counterproductiveHindering intended outcome
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- hindranceBarrier to progress
impediment · delayed · overcomplicated · wasteful · disempowering · slowing · bureaucratic · redundant · time-consuming · obstructing
micro managerhands-off
Not directly involved
laissez-faire · delegating · trusting · uncontrolling · relaxed
micro managerservant leader
Leader who serves first
coach · mentor · facilitator · enabler