micromanage

American  

[mahy-kroh-man-ij] / ˈmaɪ kroʊˌmæn ɪdʒ /

verb (used with object)

micromanaged, micromanaging

1. to manage or control with excessive attention to minor details.

   He doesn’t think it’s the legislature’s role to micromanage schools.

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micromanage British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌmænɪdʒ /

verb

1. (tr) to control (a business or project) with excessive attention to minor details

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Usage

What does micromanage mean? To micromanage is to control and guide something with excessive attention to detail. Micromanage is most often used in business and industry when a manager or someone in authority tries to control the details their subordinates or colleagues should take care of. For example, if the boss of a company does the work of their employees to save time instead of letting the employees do the work, they are micromanaging. Micromanage can also be used outside of business, as with group projects, team sports, relationships, and everyday life. For example, if you tell your roommate in detail how to wash the dishes even though they know how to wash dishes, you are micromanaging your roommate. Example: Maxime always finds a way to micromanage our projects, making everyone feel useless.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• micromanager
  noun
• micromanagement
  noun

Etymology

Origin of micromanage

First recorded in 1970–75; micro- ( def. ) + manage ( def. )

Example Sentences

Power Broker was second, 6 lengths in front of third-place Micromanage.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 29, 2013

Power Broker, trained by Bob Baffert, finished second; Micromanage, also trained by Pletcher, finished third.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2013

Palice Malice worked in company with Micromanage, who could not keep up and has been withdrawn from consideration for the race.

From New York Times • May 30, 2013

Managing: Do Not Micromanage Dave Thomas discusses what makes a good manager: “You hired your respective manager/s for a reason, let them do their job.”

From New York Times • Dec. 5, 2011