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I will admit to micromanaging occasionally and suggest that sometimes it is called for (and should not have a stigma attached). Some people are not good at breaking down end goals into the individual tasks needed to achieve them. Some people work better when their progress is being regularly checked. You hope to groom them into people who only need occasional feedback to stay on course and who will come to you if they have an issue or blocker. But in the meantime if you need to get something done, it may be necessary to “micromanage” as a way of teaching how to do it.
That said, it’s a judgment call when to use it as a tool, and lots of folks resort to it as a first option.
Arik Jones14 Jan 10
Micro-managing is real, and sure, lots of accusers. But no one wants to admit they’re a managerial douchbag and rightly so. People who micro-manage are typically self-involved and are afraid of the potential of those around around them. It usually comes out an insecurity for the quality of their own work.
I call it making sure it’s done correctly and to my standards.
Jack15 Jan 10
Micromanaging isn’t the only place where this is the case – in general we don’t see ourselves as being guilty of the many sins others are. We are always able to rationalize our own actions.
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Over 1 million people use 37signals' simple web-based software to collaborate on projects, track contacts, and organize their business with an intranet.
10 comments so far
Gregg 14 Jan 10
I will admit to micromanaging occasionally and suggest that sometimes it is called for (and should not have a stigma attached). Some people are not good at breaking down end goals into the individual tasks needed to achieve them. Some people work better when their progress is being regularly checked. You hope to groom them into people who only need occasional feedback to stay on course and who will come to you if they have an issue or blocker. But in the meantime if you need to get something done, it may be necessary to “micromanage” as a way of teaching how to do it.
That said, it’s a judgment call when to use it as a tool, and lots of folks resort to it as a first option.
Arik Jones 14 Jan 10
Micro-managing is real, and sure, lots of accusers. But no one wants to admit they’re a managerial douchbag and rightly so. People who micro-manage are typically self-involved and are afraid of the potential of those around around them. It usually comes out an insecurity for the quality of their own work.
Erik Engbrecht 14 Jan 10
No, I distinctly recall accusing other people of requiring it. Or using the euphemism “requires a highly structured work environment.”
Jeff Decker 14 Jan 10
I call it making sure it’s done correctly and to my standards.
Jack 15 Jan 10
Micromanaging isn’t the only place where this is the case – in general we don’t see ourselves as being guilty of the many sins others are. We are always able to rationalize our own actions.
tomslee 15 Jan 10
I am thorough, you are picky, he/she is a micromanager.
Liz 15 Jan 10
Ridiculous. They act like their terrible pizza is a new revelation. Just a marketing ploy…
Liz jobmatch.socialgo.com/
James 17 Jan 10
@Liz
Wrong thread but ironic being here, as in maybe the CEO was not managing enough.
Anna Pisana 17 Jan 10
well, actually i believe in micro managing. all those business books, which tell us to “think big” are not actually written by rich people.
Eoghan McCabe 17 Jan 10
This applies to all undesirable behaviours or traits.
Hypocrisy / mediocrity / bitterness / impatience / ... is something we only accuse other people of.
Comments are closed