10 Signs You’re Being Micromanaged
This B2 lesson is about micromanagement at work and the telltale signs that your boss might be doing it. Students watch a video, learn vocabulary like “autonomy,” “red flag,” and “throw a bone,” and practice through role plays where they deal with an overbearing boss or coworker. It’s a fun one for business English classes or any group with strong workplace opinions.
Lesson overview
- Learn 10 vocabulary items related to micromanagement, control, and workplace behavior
- Watch a video about 10 signs of being micromanaged and discuss real experiences
- Practice rephrasing and finding opposites for target vocabulary in workplace contexts
- Role-play humorous scenarios involving a controlling boss and an overly helpful coworker
Student's Version (Light/Dark)
Teacher's Version (Answer Keys)
Printable Classroom Version (A4)
| Level | Vocabulary | Video Length | Lesson Time |
| B2 / Upper-Intermediate | 10 words | 5:03 min | 60 min |
Vocabulary
- abolish
- red flag
- keep an eye on
- autonomy
- telltale sign
- side-eye
- one-on-one
- stalker
- throw a bone
- carbon copy
Contents
- Lead-in 1
- Lead-in 2
- Vocabulary preview
- Definitions
- Video
- Answers
- Vocabulary practice
- Opposites
- Role-play 1
- Role-play 2
The lead-in on slide 2 is a clever opener. Students read bossy-sounding sentences and figure out who might say them: a boss, a parent, a coach, a sibling. Then they add one more sentence to each category. This gets laughs quickly and sets the tone for the lesson. Follow up with the discussion questions on slide 3. Questions like “do some employees secretly prefer micromanagement?” tend to divide the room, which is exactly what you want at B2 level.
Go through the vocabulary preview on slide 4 and the definitions on slide 5. Ten words is manageable for one lesson. “Throw a bone” and “side-eye” are worth extra attention because students rarely encounter them in textbooks but hear them constantly in informal English. Once vocabulary is covered, play the video on slide 6. It runs about five minutes and lists 10 phrases a micromanaging boss would use. Have students write down the phrases as they watch, then compare with the answers on slide 7. The follow-up question about whether students have dealt with a micromanaging boss usually opens up good conversation.
Slide 8 is the vocabulary practice. Students read eight short workplace situations and match them to vocabulary from the lesson, then rephrase each one. This takes more effort than a simple gap fill because students need to understand both the word and the context. The opposites exercise on slide 9 adds another layer. Students find an opposite for each vocabulary word from a word bank and write example sentences. This is a useful exercise for B2 learners who need to build range, not just recognize single meanings.
Wrap up with the two role plays on slides 10 and 11. The first one pairs a controlling boss with a patient employee trying to make coffee without supervision. The second has an overly helpful coworker who insists Comic Sans is the future of presentations. Both are written to be funny, and students usually run with the humor. Give pairs a few minutes to prepare, then perform for the class. These role plays pull together the vocabulary and speaking skills from the whole lesson in a low-pressure way.
