Understanding Micro Managers

Micro Managers are the bane of everyone’s lives. No one likes them. Absolutely no one. But they exist among us. The best way to curb their behavior is to understand why they operate this way.

Ready for the no-nonsense no-word-mincing revelation? Micro Managers are essential control freaks with low self esteem. They want to control everything and they don’t have confidence in themselves for having hired well or trained their staff well. So, they feel the need to butt into every little detail to the Nth degree.

The most exasperating thing one must do is to coax them to believe that they have hired well and trained the team well, so as to enable them to slowly let go. Essentially stroke their ego – they have low self-esteem so they need that, badly. Then, help them feel they are in control…again by stroking their ego. They are sensitive people, so you need to treat them with sensitivity (all while trying not to stab yourself in the eye). But it must be done. Or they will continue to haunt you, day in and day out.

If you can’t make yourself do the above, then, the best way to manage a micro manager is to exit the situation. For those with micro managers in their lives as family members, ouch. We all feel for you. The above still applies, but an occasional healthy dose of “stop it!” can help the person more long term since you actually love the person (hard to love your micro manager boss though or tell him/her to “stop it!”) and want to help them improve themselves and become more self-aware (after all, this behavior is not exactly healthy or effective for them or for others around them).