Before you hate me right off the bat, please allow me to maybe explain how I became that way and how I realized I was a micromanager. This post is long, sorry.
I was a supervisor for many years at 2 different banks working in mostly the call center or where we corresponded electronically with customers. Anyone that works or has worked in a call center knows it's all about meeting the metrics or KPI's.
Then the manager position opened up and I applied because it seemed like the natural progression and I was basically already doing the job. I got it and was so excited! I thought I was going to make a real difference! Everything was just swimming right along, not perfectly but I enjoyed the challenge and absolutely loved my employees.
Fast forward to the start of the pandemic. We had to close our branches so the volume in the call center and my department went through the roof. Some areas increased over 300% within a week. But we were expected to maintain the same metrics (we got some help from the branches, but my department was semi-specialized). My team did their best every day, but my stress and anxiety was so bad that I literally would sit in my office and cry. I couldn't stop. I went to the ER several times thinking I was having a heart attack. Nope! Just an anxiety attack. Twice this happened at work.
I knew I needed a change and one kind of fell into my lap. The only thing was, it wasn't a management position. I had worked so hard and sacrificed for so long that I really had to step back and assess myself and my life. I knew I couldn't continue on the way it was and the expectations weren't going to change. I applied and got it.
When I moved over to my new position I COULD NOT BELIEVE how stress free it is. Almost a year later, I'm still in shock. But I've come to realize that I was being managed by a team of extreme micromanagers. This literally turned me into a micromanager. I didn't start out that way. I think it was gradual so I really didn't realize until I started being managed by the most relaxed management team. We have deadlines we have to meet, but they actually provide us with the tools to meet them and they understand that we are HUMANS.
I know that if I were to talk to my old boss about it, they would never think she is a micromanager. I sure didn't. But boy was I wrong.
Please know that I am not excusing myself at all. I've just come to recognize it and what caused it. I truly think that most managers don't intend to be that way or start out that way; they are usually a product of their management. It's obviously a much bigger problem, but I don't have to worry about that anymore. lol
I have zero plans to ever get into management again. I am too dang old for that stress and have finally achieved a true work-life balance (in my eyes).
Just food for thought.