Paying attention to things that don't really matter, to manage or control with excessive attention to minor details.
Max: I gave my boss the billing report but all he cared about was that i did it in the wrong font.
Sam: Wow, he needs to learn how to not micromanage
by Max Burch July 11, 2008
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To excessively watch and control how a girl treats you during intercourse, making sure she treats you right and does her best.
"Did you get with that chick last night?"
"Yeah, but I had to micromanage her the entire time."
by 25th Drummerboy July 1, 2015
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A person who is driven by fear and anxiety into mettling with others' work. Micromanagers are bosses or peers who constantly seek to usurp the decision rights of others. Their excessively insecure and competitive nature causes them to react negatively to ideas and efforts not their own. If they possess authority, they will aggressively use it to control the way work gets done around them. They are typically focused on process rather than results. They criticize others far more frequently than they praise them.

A micromanager is motivated by a fear of receiving blame for "mistakes" made on their watch. They will try to reduce risk by squelching the initiative of others and they will try to insure no mistakes are being made by insisting on reviewing and "approving" work. Frequently, they will make unnecessary requests for more work and will provide repeated edits.

Almost all micromanagers are workaholics with codependent relationships in the organization. They surround themselves with bureaucrats when they can. Their relationship to their boss is far more important to them than their relationship to their staff or peers. If a micromanager has been in their position for a long time and are perceived as successful, then the organizational disfunction is institutional. Many organizations succeed by utilizing micromanagers to "ensure quality" or to make other employees depart.

The typical experience for an employee working for a micromanager is repleat with frustration and runs the risk of demoralizing the individual and impacting their self esteem. Confident employees of micromanagers will often develop effective means for managing upward, but the majority of staff who are micromanaged will modify their behavior in negative ways:

1) slacking - avoiding the manager and reducing output
2) facilitating - giving up decision rights and following orders
3) rebelling - pushing back in career-destroying ways

Micromanagers know the rules and are very good at avoiding putting themselves into a position where they will be vulnerable to disciplinary action. Though their actions reduce productivity, their long list of efforts that they control looks highly productive to their superiors. Though not all sycophants are micromanagers, all micromanagers are sycophants.

Workers faced with a micromanaging boss would be well advised to develop a clear, thorough strategy for coping with the situation. Leaving the position or the company should be viewed as a reasonable solution.
My boss is a classic kiss-up-kick-down micromanager who won't allow me to do my job without constant interference.
by leap4rog September 16, 2007
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In business management, micromanagement is an example of poor management where the manager over-manages people unnecessarily. Instead of giving people general instructions and then allowing them to do their job, the micromanager monitors and assesses every step. The manager may be motivated by concern for details. The effect, however, may be to de-motivate employees and create resentment.- en.wikipedia.org
“Finally, this supervisor is holding himself back. By continuing to micromanage his staff, he is insuring that they don't develop. If there is no one to replace the superintendent, then he, in turn, cannot advance. Some people mistakenly think that, by not developing their subordinates, they are maintaining job security for themselves. In fact, what they're doing is hurting the company.” -www.sideroad.com
by Adam Carlton May 5, 2005
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Someone who overanalyzes things and can at times be extremely petty about it. Paying attention to minute details that are a waste of time and energy. Has a tendency to accuse others of possible wrong doing just to have someone to be the scape goat to their insecurity and constant need to control something or somebody.
Dan is constantly accounting for every pencil and paper clip and has to nit pick about who spent the last $800 and isnt satisfied if the explaination doesnt fit his mold of what the money was used for even if the evidence is presented proving that the money was spent wisely. Dan always has this micromanager mentality which is highly annoying.
by Queenbee7519 September 1, 2009
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The term essentially means to supervise every small step in the workflow process -- hence the 'micro.' In today's workplace, micromanaging is responsible for many bad bottom lines, poor performances and bankruptcies.-www.dealconsulting.com
Tim Burgin-he is insuring that they don't develop. In fact, what he doing is hurting the company.
by Adam Carlton May 5, 2005
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Micromanagement is a term which describes the management of many small details in computer games. It has at least two senses, one referring to economic management and the other to combat tactics. Micromanagement has been a controversial aspect of game design for many years - some games minimize it while others treat it as an important skill.
Shove that micromanagement up your ass! I'm getting a different RTS.
by fredmeepbob November 20, 2007
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