Rather than telling him, why not ask him? For example, does he have ameta-system he's trying to instil or is he feeling his way? Does he actually like managing every detail or is this something he would prefer to avoid if he felt more confident in his team? Is he feeling short of things to do, since he doesn't have to chase investment at this stage? how does he want to run things as the company grows, or does he just want to keep it small and grow more organically?
The CEO of my company is a micro manager - how to make it stop?
21–30 of 41 posts
Re: The CEO of my company is a micro manager - how to make it stop?
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree. Work should make you feel satisfied. If your current job doesn't do that for you, find one that does. EDIT: However, thinking about this from the opposite position; perhaps the CEO is looking for advice regarding employees who won't take instruction?
What are are making is cool, and we have the potential to get huge so I'd like to stay. Everyone does exactly what he says, so he should have no issues with anyone not taking instruction from him. It just sucks to leave a meeting knowing that we are doing it the wrong way and can't do anything to fix it. I want to fix it.
If the company is so successful, is it possible that in fact you are not being asked to do it the wrong way?
Re: The CEO of my company is a micro manager - how to make it stop?
#23May I suggest first figuring out if the CEO is suffering from NPD (narcissistic personality disorder); if so, you need out of there. An NPD CEO is not concerned about what is right or good for business, he's concerned about establishing his image to subordinates, customers, investors as a person, nay, as a Messiah, who is vastly intelligent, experienced and wise and should be followed blindly and committed to utterly. He will accomplish this not by quietly demonstrating these attributes but by actively portraying and marketing himself and his image at every opportunity. That kind of person will stunt your personal growth and development immeasurably.
Re: The CEO of my company is a micro manager - how to make it stop?
#24I think the advice to Quit should be qualified by: only if the company has more than about 25 people. Otherwise, there may be hope.
Re: The CEO of my company is a micro manager - how to make it stop?
#25"Hi boss I've just been to the toilet and was unsure whether to wipe with my left hand or my right. I thought you might want some input seeing as you make all my other decisions for me."
Re: The CEO of my company is a micro manager - how to make it stop?
#26honestly unless you're a owner it's not your place to critique the management style of the ceo. yes if you disagree with something specific you should speak up, but the reality is that you're a hired hand. also if the ceo managed to scale up to 30 people without any help something tells me that either he's doing something right or has enough money banked to make and learn from his own mistakes. now if you don't like…
>honestly unless you're a owner it's not your place to critique the management style of the ceo. Of course it is. It's not like he's some ubermensch beyond flaws or with an infinite capacity for reasoning. You can micromanage 0-20 people to success but it starts to fall apart when you begin to have employees whose names you only sorta remember.
it depends on the nature of the business and the capacity of the manager -- for example google didn't start to talk about having a real ceo (i.e. a professional manager) until they hit 200 people. when you join a company you're buying into the culture of that company, and that includes the style of the ceo. so imagine someone telling steve jobs that he's "too passionate about aesthetics" or telling bill gates that "you have really BAD taste" -- clearly you shouldn't be at that company (even if you're correct).
Re: The CEO of my company is a micro manager - how to make it stop?
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
What are are making is cool, and we have the potential to get huge so I'd like to stay. Everyone does exactly what he says, so he should have no issues with anyone not taking instruction from him. It just sucks to leave a meeting knowing that we are doing it the wrong way and can't do anything to fix it. I want to fix it.
If the company is so successful, is it possible that in fact you are not being asked to do it the wrong way?
Point taken. Our first product was all him - and its great. Now that we are bigger and can make more products - we aren't doing them the right way.
Re: The CEO of my company is a micro manager - how to make it stop?
#28Is this a place you want to work? You can deftly share articles like HBR "Why Aren't You Delegating?" http://blogs.hbr.org/hmu/2012/07/why-arent-you-delegating.ht... , but at the end of the day the CEO is totally in charge.
This is a really good article - thanks for this.
Re: The CEO of my company is a micro manager - how to make it stop?
#29If its possible have him read this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Multipliers-Best-Leaders-Everyone-Smar...
It's a book on how some leaders push people at their job while other leaders simply make everyone shut down and only get about 50% productivity. He's micro-managing style is actually covered in depth.
Re: The CEO of my company is a micro manager - how to make it stop?
#30As he is the owner, buy the company or live with it. :(