Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
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Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
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Re: Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
#2Ok, I am going to be brutally honest here. Some may not like it.
Micromanaging is complicated. When I was in a leadership position I was the happiest boss when I could let people just do their thing and come back with great results and we'd be all happy. And that's how I loved working with my bosses before as well.
But then again, I had some employees I had to micromanage. I really, really abhorred it. But there was just no other way to achieve results. The truth is probably that I should have gotten into more serious talks with those employees instead. But before you fire people, you have to invest to be absolutely sure you're doing the right thing.
What I am trying to say is: As an employee, try to be as a reflective person as you ask your boss to be one. Maybe your work is the reason for him/her to be micromanaging you.
Re: Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
#3Ok, I am going to be brutally honest here. Some may not like it. Micromanaging is complicated. When I was in a leadership position I was the happiest boss when I could let people just do their thing and come back with great results and we'd be all happy. And that's how I loved working with my bosses before as well. But then again, I had some employees I had to micromanage. I really, really abhorred it. But there was…
> The truth is probably that I should have gotten into more serious talks with those employees instead.
Did you take the micromanaging approach because you didn't open a channel for feedback between you and the team?
Micromanagement is one thing: a lack of trust. You micromanage because you don't trust, or maybe they don't trust either. So, what do you do to build up trust? You talk.
Note that this is different to accountability. You can hold people to account without micromanaging them.
Re: Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
#4I think micromanagement can be a manifestation of the pressure a person is under. It can come from outside or inside, but whenever you feel that too much is at stake you might start micromanaging.
Re: Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
#5Ok, I am going to be brutally honest here. Some may not like it. Micromanaging is complicated. When I was in a leadership position I was the happiest boss when I could let people just do their thing and come back with great results and we'd be all happy. And that's how I loved working with my bosses before as well. But then again, I had some employees I had to micromanage. I really, really abhorred it. But there was…
Why did you have to micromanage those employees?
Re: Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
#6The way I deal with it is by leaving the team immediately. My life is too short to put up with being treated like a slave. I am too good at programming.
Re: Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
#7I think "Trust" is the primary reason for Micromanaging. If a person doesn't trust their subordinates they try to micromanage. This just doesn't happen at work, at home as well (eg. between parents & kids).
Re: Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
#8Ok, I am going to be brutally honest here. Some may not like it. Micromanaging is complicated. When I was in a leadership position I was the happiest boss when I could let people just do their thing and come back with great results and we'd be all happy. And that's how I loved working with my bosses before as well. But then again, I had some employees I had to micromanage. I really, really abhorred it. But there was…
Why did you have to micromanage those employees?
> But then again, I had some employees I had to micromanage. I really, really abhorred it. But there was just no other way to achieve results.
Re: Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
#9Ok, I am going to be brutally honest here. Some may not like it. Micromanaging is complicated. When I was in a leadership position I was the happiest boss when I could let people just do their thing and come back with great results and we'd be all happy. And that's how I loved working with my bosses before as well. But then again, I had some employees I had to micromanage. I really, really abhorred it. But there was…
Why did you have to micromanage those employees?
Not OP, but generally because they aren’t doing the work I need them to. In my experience some folks literally don’t know what they’re supposed to do to get started or get stuck on small tasks. Micromanaging is a way to get past those blocks. That said, I absolutely hate doing it and it runs counter to my entire people leadership philosophy (it’s a waste of time for me and condescending to the employee). But at some point you have to get work done, and if that takes micromanagement, so be it.
Re: Way to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
#10Ok, I am going to be brutally honest here. Some may not like it. Micromanaging is complicated. When I was in a leadership position I was the happiest boss when I could let people just do their thing and come back with great results and we'd be all happy. And that's how I loved working with my bosses before as well. But then again, I had some employees I had to micromanage. I really, really abhorred it. But there was…
> The truth is probably that I should have gotten into more serious talks with those employees instead. Did you take the micromanaging approach because you didn't open a channel for feedback between you and the team? Micromanagement is one thing: a lack of trust. You micromanage because you don't trust, or maybe they don't trust either. So, what do you do to build up trust? You talk. Note that this is different to ac…
> So, what do you do to build up trust? You talk.
What do you do when talking leads to them saying "I understand, next time I'll either get it done faster, or let you know when I realize it's gonna slip" but then what actually happens is that it slips without them giving you any updates again after all? Repeatedly? Talking doesn't build trust when the actions don't match the talk.