Why do we micro-manage so much

I have two descriptions to hit on, one as already mentioned is the fear of failure, but there is more to that I will hit on in a minute, the second issue is the power of control issue, many leaders, especially CDRs have this control issue of power as they have to prove they are the ones in charge, everyone knows the CDR is the boss, now whether or not s/he knows what they are really doing is subjective at times, but that having to prove you are in charge all the time detracts from anyone being to learn and grow within their jobs and ranks because of the power trip of that command.

Now back to the first issue, society as a whole is to blame for the fear of failure thing, it is just not distinctive to the military, sometime during the 90s along with many changes created during the Clinton administration, I am not bashing him, it is just that most came during and from his time, society changed from holding the individual accountable for their actions, and it started with childhood, remember "no child left behind" (Clinton), well it changed the way kids are treated and graded in school, I will give an example, I have a female cousin who didn't finish high school but was supposedly on the honor roll, yet she couldn't add change properly, and didn't know the difference between our and are for sentence structure yet she was an A/B student, because no one is supposed to get grades below Cs anymore, that is producing stupidity more than knowledge, that is how it started. You have sports where everyone gets a trophy or gets to play because if not it cause psychological issues, BS it is part of the new PC world, this had led to the changes in the military where you could no longer yell at Soldiers, curse at them, had to allow them their time off no matter if they earned it or not, you can't punish them verbally, physically, or sometimes even in writing as it is not conducive, again BS, it never harmed anyone from my generation that grew up in the military and served our 20+ years, and most of us never had any DUIs, drug issues, rapes, weapons charges, embezzlements, etc. etc., but this is the norm for most of today's Army from PVT through General.

Society has made it so that no one is ever responsible for their own actions anymore it has to be someone else's fault or responsibility, I am not saying that we need to verbally or physically abuse SMs, but there are times when a strong abrasive tone or voice gets the point across and does prevent the situation from arising or occurring again. Sometimes physical conditioning also becomes a useful tool twofold, it helps to sometimes prevent the issue from occurring again and also builds the Soldier up physically as well. I do believe leaders should be involved in their Soldiers discipline, but I don't feel they should be held accountable for their subordinates actions as an adult, they can do the paperwork as needed, but shouldn't have to babysit them at a mandated class for their misgivings, while I can see supervising punishment in certain circumstances, they shouldn't have to be there 24/7, if that is the case, each level of leadership would fall under the same umbrella, if they PSG is responsible for the Soldier than the 1SG/BN CSM/BDE CSM etc. is responsible as well and should be there as well, in reality we know this is nor would never happen, so it shouldn't happen for that PSG or 1st line supervisor either as the Soldier in question is an adult and should be treated as one and given the punishment or mandated class and told be there or suffer the consequences even further for disobeying a direct order simple and to the point.

Until we get rid of or change the societal restrictions it will never change and will only continue to get progressively worse as it has over the last decade plus.

Micro-management is alive and kicking nowadays are for fear of liability, and it always starts off with statistics:

 I remember being able to drive a military vehicle with just a beret/patrol cap...Rollover rates made that into PPE.

Suicide rates/marital problems/financial problems increase...USA SLRTT is mandated to populate Service member's proposed risk.

Deaths on installation while running: PT belts at all times as well as no distractors (cell phones/music/head phones)

I feel just as you do, SSG DeSerio.  It's just that trust nowadays isn't what it used to be. 

I'd like to answer here in two parts SSG DeSario.  First, in my opinion, I do not consider the safety briefing during the end of week close out formation to be micro-managing.  Yes, the same topics are covered over, and over again, but take a step back and look at it like this.  One of the things that we as leaders are charged with is to ensure that our Soldiers are equipped with all the tools and knowledge to make the right decisions and to be successful.  By taking the time and explaining to them in great detail that drinking and driving is bad and bad things will happen if you do it, sexual harassment/assault is bad and bad and bad things will happen if you do it or do not intervene, drugs are bad and bad things will happen if you do drugs, etc, etc, etc.  Once formation is over, those Soldiers will either take heed to what you said to them or they will not.  I slept peacefully every night as a PSG and 1SG knowing that I provided my guys and gals the tools to make the right decisions.  Using those tools was up to them.

Second, leaders who micromanage on a daily basis have a fear of failure, as LTC Tobias stated, and some have to be that guy or gal in the spot light to their higher.  They say things like "look what I did" or "I told them to do it that way and that is why it was a success."  Either way, it does not afford Soldiers the opportunity to learn and grow.  By engaging in that style of management, you are doing a disservice to your Soldiers, your unit and in a much bigger context, the Army.  That is a leadership failure.