micromanage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Critical
Quick answer
What does “micromanage” mean?
To control or supervise every small detail of a task or the work of subordinates.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To control or supervise every small detail of a task or the work of subordinates.
To exercise excessive control or attention to minor details, often to the detriment of efficiency, autonomy, or morale.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally common and understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Identically negative in both contexts, associated with poor leadership.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American business/management discourse, but widely used in UK professional contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “micromanage” in a Sentence
[Subject] micromanages [Object: person/team/project][Subject] is micromanagingto micromanage [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “micromanage” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new director began to micromanage the editorial process, which frustrated the seasoned journalists.
- If you micromanage your staff, they'll never learn to think for themselves.
American English
- The CEO has a bad habit of micromanaging the marketing budget down to the last dollar.
- She was hired to lead, not to micromanage every single task in the department.
adverb
British English
- He was managing the project micromanagingly, which was counterproductive.
American English
- She tends to lead micromanagingly, which slows everything down.
adjective
British English
- His micromanage approach led to high staff turnover.
- We need to move away from a micromanage culture.
American English
- She has a micromanage style that leaves no room for initiative.
- The team rebelled against the micromanage boss.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A critical term for a management style that stifles innovation and employee development.
Academic
Used in organisational psychology and management studies to describe counterproductive leadership behaviours.
Everyday
Used to complain about a boss, parent, or partner who is overly controlling about small things.
Technical
Not a technical term in engineering/sciences; primarily a management/behavioural term.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “micromanage”
- Using it as a positive term (e.g., 'She micromanages the project well').
- Confusing with 'manage' or 'monitor'.
- Misspelling as 'micro-manage' (hyphen is optional but less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern usage it is almost exclusively a criticism. It describes an excessive, counterproductive level of control.
Yes, it can be applied to any situation where someone exercises excessive control over details (e.g., a parent micromanaging a child's homework, a partner micromanaging household chores).
Managing involves oversight, guidance, and support. Micromanaging involves excessive, intrusive control of minor details, showing a lack of trust in others' competence.
No. 'Micromanage' (as one word) is the standard form in modern dictionaries, though the hyphenated form is sometimes seen.
To control or supervise every small detail of a task or the work of subordinates.
Micromanage is usually formal, business, critical in register.
Micromanage: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪ.krəʊˌmæn.ɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪ.kroʊˌmæn.ɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be a helicopter boss (similar concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a manager using a MICROscope to MANAGE tiny details instead of seeing the big picture.
Conceptual Metaphor
MANAGEMENT IS CHILD-REARING (the manager treats employees as incapable children needing constant direction).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of micromanaging?