Do you feel like your boss doesn’t trust you to get the job done on your own? If you’re dealing with a micromanager, this feeling is all too familiar. A boss who is constantly hovering over you can cause serious frustration. Even worse, it can actually make it harder to do your job, and you may feel like you’re not doing your best work because of your supervisor’s unrelenting supervision.
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to create a better relationship with your boss. The following guide covers several tactics for creating a better work environment—one in which you feel empowered rather than belittled. When you’re no longer slowed down at every turn by your boss’s micromanaging habits, you’ll find that you’re more productive and happier at work day after day.
The first step to dealing with a micromanager is to understand that, more than likely, your boss is trying to do his job as well as he can. If he felt that micromanaging you was as inefficient as you believe it to be, he wouldn’t waste his time on it. For some reason, your boss thinks that constantly scrutinizing your work and nagging you about every task is the best way to get the job done. To get things to change, you need to help him see that there are better ways of doing things.
The following tips will help you get your boss off your back a bit so you can do your job well and start enjoying work again.
Recognize the signs
If you’re not sure whether your boss is a micromanager, it’s wise to understand the signs before you following the subsequent tips. Here are some of the red flags you’ll notice if you do have a micromanager on your hands:
- Your boss assigns work to you but constantly wants to be involved in the task while you’re working on it.
- Your boss always wants to have the final say on everything; all of your decisions must be approved.
- Your boss requires frequent updates on low-priority work tasks.
- Your boss insists on attending all meetings, even though your team could handle it.
- Your boss rarely talks about big-picture items; instead your manager wants to know each and every detail of how work is being done.
- Your boss has trouble giving up control of certain tasks and feels that you and your coworkers can’t do them correctly.
Besides these warning signs, it’s also important to look around the office to make sure this isn’t something unique to your one-on-one relationship with your boss. Do employees seem unmotivated or lack in enough work to keep them busy? Do workers avoid the manager around the office? Is there a high turnover rate? These are additional red flags that indicate you may have a micromanager.
Earn more trust
Often, the biggest concern for a micromanager is simply not wanting to give up control. However, this creates more work for all involved, so it’s in everyone’s best interest if you find a way to help your boss trust you with certain tasks.
Since your boss is always hovering over your assigned work projects, you can try to complete something independently to prove your trustworthiness. For example, if your boss seems stressed about a certain portion of the project, offer to take it on yourself. If communication appears to be a constant challenge, offer to draft up the memos for your team so you can take that off her plate.
When you deliver on these tasks to your boss’ satisfaction, it will show your him that you’re capable of taking on important projects without constant supervision. Instead of pushing back against micromanagement, focus on being a reliable, problem-solving employee. You’ll help relieve their stress and give your boss a chance to see that letting go of some control is a good thing.
Learn what type of feedback they like
If your boss is constantly wanting to be involved in your work, take time to consider exactly what type of involvement he or she is interested in. Does your boss request that you put together easy-to-read data in the forms of charts and graphs? Does she like to see all the early drafts of your writing to see how you came up with a final draft? Does she usually ask for bullet points from every meeting?
Once you learn what type of information and feedback your boss prefers, start anticipating these requests. Put together that data chart and send it over before she asks for it, or send an email with the talking points from your latest team meeting. When you supply the information your boss wants before receiving a request, it makes you look smart, proactive, and capable. It also allows your boss to feel more confident leaving the reins in your hands.
Get clarity at the beginning
If you’re starting a new project with your micromanaging boss, it’s the perfect opportunity to set clear boundaries and expectations. Before you start working, come up with a plan of action with your boss for how you’ll tackle the assignment. Here’s an example of how that might look:
- The goals for the project are reaching out to past clients and initiating new contracts.
- You will provide the boss with weekly updates as to which clients have been contacted and their responses.
- New contracts will use a particular template. If the client requests any edits or additions, you’ll inform the boss before approving it.
- All clients will be contacted by a set date, and a meeting will be held the following day to discuss the results.
By setting these expectations at the beginning of the project, your boss sees how you plan to tackle the assignment. She also understands that she’ll be kept in the loop on the progress of the project and will be involved in important decision-making. If the boss deviates from the plan, you can refer back to these initial guidelines you set up to ensure her that everything is under control. This keeps your boss out of the day-to-day minutiae of the project and allows you to get your job done without constant interference.
When to accept a micromanaging boss
Now that you’ve know how to recognize and deal with a micromanaging boss, it’s worth noting that in some cases, your boss may be right to be constantly looking over your shoulder. Here are the three situations in which you need to temporarily accept being micromanaged at work:
- You’re new to the job. When you’re a new employee, it’s common for a manager to be closely involved with your work. Even if you’ve done the same type of work for years and you’re completely confident in your abilities on the job, you need to accept that your boss will want to monitor your progress for a bit. This ensures that you’re performing up to expectations and that you’re living up to the skills your resume promised. Once you prove yourself (which may take a few months or more), you can expect your boss to be a little more hands-off.
- You’re on a performance improvement plan. Also known as a PIP, this type of plan indicates that you’re not currently performing up to expectations. As a result, your boss will likely be keeping a close eye on you to see if you’re adhering to the plan.Some workplaces do not use the term PIP, but you can expect your boss to micromanage you a bit if you’ve been warned about your performance in any way.
- You’re working on a high-stakes assignment. Some work projects are more important than others, and if you’re working on something significant, your boss is likely to get more involved. This is especially true if your boss will be held accountable in a major way if certain results aren’t achieved. For the duration of this assignment, you’ll need to accept that micromanagement is part of the deal.
Some micromanagers just won’t change, in which case it may be time to look for a new job. But in many cases, you can work with a micromanager to come up with a system that works for you both. Use these tips to help foster trust with your boss and make your job a little easier in the process.
