Micromanagement
A management style characterised by excessive oversight, control, and attention to minor details, leaving employees with little autonomy over how they complete their work.
Micromanagement occurs when a manager monitors and controls the work of their team members in excessive detail — checking in constantly, requiring approval for minor decisions, and correcting small details rather than focusing on outcomes. While often driven by a desire for quality or control, micromanagement typically undermines both.
The impact of micromanagement on employees is well-documented: reduced motivation, increased stress, lower job satisfaction, and higher turnover. Micromanaged employees do not develop independent problem-solving skills because they are never given the space to exercise them.
In remote work environments, micromanagement manifests in different ways — requiring constant online presence indicators, demanding frequent status updates, or insisting on unnecessary video calls. The antidote is outcome-based management: clear goals, agreed milestones, and trust that the employee will deliver without needing to be watched at every step.