micromanage

[mahy-kroh-man-ij]

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.

micromanage

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌmænɪdʒ /

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• micromanagement noun
• micromanager noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of micromanage¹

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

Example Sentences

Even lawmakers within Macron’s own party are chafing over his attempts to micromanage the assembly.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Allow the government to micromanage your academic institution or jeopardise the institution's ability to pursue medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and innovative solutions."

Read more on BBC

So this is all weird 1970s electrical engineering jargon for some straightforward commonsense management theory: Set clear objectives, set budgets, don't micromanage.

Read more on Salon

“The tradeoff put to Harvard and other universities is clear: Allow the Government to micromanage your academic institution or jeopardize the institution’s ability to pursue medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and innovative solutions,” the filing states.

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“While we fully respect the Executive’s robust assertion of its Article II powers, we shall not micromanage the efforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Court’s recent decision,” he added.

Read more on Salon

When To Use

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.