Ever spent years despising your boss for being overbearing, only to realise you’ve quietly inherited the same habit? Mridul Anand, an IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta grad, shares a candid LinkedIn story about exactly that. From burning the midnight oil on high-pressure projects to obsessing over every slide, he once resented his micromanaging boss. Years later, as a manager himself, he caught the reflection of that same behavior in his own eyes — a lesson in the fine line between care and control.
Early in his career, every project felt like walking a tightrope. Weeks of sleepless nights went into perfecting a deck, only for it to be rewritten entirely by his boss. The message was clear: no matter the effort, trust was missing. While it honed his eye for detail, it crushed creativity, and he promised himself he’d never lead that way.
Fast forward, and he found himself tweaking a teammate’s flawless work under the guise of “raising the bar.” But the moment he saw their reaction, he recognized the familiar sting of distrust — the same one he once despised.
His lesson
Now, he pauses before “fixing” anything, asking whether it’s truly about improving the work or feeding his own need for control. The answer, he admits, often isn’t flattering — but it’s honest. Suffocating and distrustful, that thin line between leadership and micromanagement is one he’s learned to navigate carefully, with awareness and a pinch of humility.
Internet reacts
One user highlighted that trusting others begins with trusting oneself and praised Mridul’s insights, noting that a leader’s role is to showcase the team’s potential while providing a safety net. Another commented that recognising one’s own mistakes is a sign of maturity. Someone else pointed out that micromanaging and constantly reworking everything kills initiative, ownership, and proactiveness in a team. Another user appreciated Mridul’s candour, saying that this self-awareness reflects true leadership and shared gratitude for mentors who’ve offered similar eye-opening lessons.
Early in his career, every project felt like walking a tightrope. Weeks of sleepless nights went into perfecting a deck, only for it to be rewritten entirely by his boss. The message was clear: no matter the effort, trust was missing. While it honed his eye for detail, it crushed creativity, and he promised himself he’d never lead that way.
Fast forward, and he found himself tweaking a teammate’s flawless work under the guise of “raising the bar.” But the moment he saw their reaction, he recognized the familiar sting of distrust — the same one he once despised.
His lesson
Now, he pauses before “fixing” anything, asking whether it’s truly about improving the work or feeding his own need for control. The answer, he admits, often isn’t flattering — but it’s honest. Suffocating and distrustful, that thin line between leadership and micromanagement is one he’s learned to navigate carefully, with awareness and a pinch of humility.
Internet reacts
One user highlighted that trusting others begins with trusting oneself and praised Mridul’s insights, noting that a leader’s role is to showcase the team’s potential while providing a safety net. Another commented that recognising one’s own mistakes is a sign of maturity. Someone else pointed out that micromanaging and constantly reworking everything kills initiative, ownership, and proactiveness in a team. Another user appreciated Mridul’s candour, saying that this self-awareness reflects true leadership and shared gratitude for mentors who’ve offered similar eye-opening lessons.
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