Over-guidance

The act of providing excessive or redundant assistance, direction, or instruction, often leading to confusion, dependency, or reduced autonomy in the recipient. over-guidance can hinder personal growth and decision-making, as individuals may rely too heavily on external input rather than developing their own skills and judgment. This phenomenon is frequently observed in educational, professional, and personal development contexts.

Over-guidance meaning with examples

• In a workplace setting, an employee experienced over-guidance from their manager, who insisted on reviewing every detail of their work. Instead of fostering independence, this constant scrutiny stifled creativity, making the employee hesitant to contribute original ideas, fearing unnecessary criticism and second-guessing.
• During her high school years, Sarah felt overwhelmed by the over-guidance from her parents, who meticulously planned her extracurricular activities. Although they intended to support her, the lack of agency made her anxious and unsure about making her own choices, affecting her confidence.
• The teacher's over-guidance in the classroom resulted in students becoming overly reliant on structured instructions, struggling to engage in critical thinking. Rather than exploring their own thoughts and perspectives, they waited for the teacher's explicit directions to approach problem-solving.
• In a mentorship program, the mentor's over-guidance led the mentee to feel overly constrained. Instead of exploring personal interests and setting independent goals, they were stuck following the mentor's rigid agenda, limiting their opportunities for self-discovery and growth.