HOW TO DEAL WITH A MICROMANAGER AT WORK

WITH MARGIE WARRELL, LEADERSHIP COACH AND AUTHOR OF BRAVE: 50 EVERYDAY ACTS OF COURAGE TO THRIVE IN WORK, LOVE AND LIFE

So your boss loves giving you lists, looking over your shoulder and laying out exactly how they think you should complete each task (including those you could do with your eyes closed). Before you give way to despair, try these suggestions on for size.

AUDIT YOURSELF You may not think you require micromanaging, but your boss clearly feels differently. Take a hard look at your recent performance and attitude to be sure you’re not partly responsible for it. Have you missed deadlines, arrived late or been distracted? Be honest.

SEE THROUGH THEIR EYES Before you decide that your boss is a jerk, try to understand what motivates them to act as they do. There are three main reasons people micromanage: it’s their personality type, they’re unsure they can trust you or they’re insecure in their job and controlling you eases their angst. The better you understand where your boss is coming from, the better positioned you’ll be to exceed expectations and avoid lose-lose situations.

ANTICIPATE THEIR WANTS There’s no better way to win the trust of your boss than to anticipate what they want before they ask for it. Prepare a draft agenda for the upcoming meeting. Compile a list of venues for the next conference. Once your boss knows you’re two steps ahead of them, they’ll feel less need to oversee your every move.

PROVIDE UPDATES Micromanagers love a sense of control. They love detailed task lists and hate “surprises”. Micromanaging you helps safeguard against them. Proactively sending your manager regular updates on what you’re doing will stave off questioning and help put their mind at ease.

TEACH THEM TO DELEGATE Delegating tasks is scary for micromanagers, as they fear you’ll mess things up. To ease them into it, begin by asking if you can help manage a task from start to finish, highlighting how this will free up their time for more important matters. If they’re resistant, ask for a small trial assignment and keep them abreast of your progress.

ACT WITH THE PROFESSIONALISM THEY LACK

Never let your manager’s lack of professionalism be an excuse for your own. Stay focused on doing an excellent job. Your skill at “managing up” can set you apart from the pack and open doors to new opportunities as well as better managers.

SPEAK UP Be brave and have a conversation with your boss about how you can better work together. Frame it to be about how you can support them, rather than getting them off your back. Approaching your boss respectfully – with a genuine desire to do better – can open the door to new levels of trust, collaboration and outcomes.