Historically Speaking

The Tyranny of the Micromanager

May 17, 2013 9:09 p.m. ET

As anyone who has had the misfortune to work for a micromanager knows, success only makes the manager worse. Nor is this observation limited to CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

Frederick the Great of Prussia was a notorious micromanager of his generals. During the battle of Zorndorf in 1758, he shunted around his battalions like a boy playing with tin soldiers. Finally, goaded to the point of exasperation by the king's interference, his brilliant cavalry general Friedrich von Seydlitz had the following message relayed to...

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