[rbellio]

I think the devil is in the details here. Yes, all of these things could slide into micromanagement if the intent and execution of them are not done properly. I've had experiences with managers who want to meet every week for a one-on-one, regardless of whether it's needed or not and it had to be endured for the full duration. It was miserable. On the other hand, having a bi-monthly meeting where I know that I have my manager's undivided attention to ask questions or air grievances is great. Not to mention, on the other side of the ball, it's a great time to be able to gauge the stress level of the employee and ensure that they are happy with where they're at.

As for the educating the manager part, I understand where you're coming from. You shouldn't have to sit down and teach your manager what the MVC pattern is, or how it's implemented in the language your company is using. You want to bring Grails into an organization that's never seen it before? Okay, I can understand explaining the technology to those folks above you, giving them the pros and cons of working with it and letting them make a decision on whether it's the right fit for the organization.