How to Deal With a Micromanager

Working with a micromanager can be destructive not only to your productivity, but also your morale. Tasks that could be completed quickly and independently can become long, fraught ordeals. And no one likes to feel like they are untrusted to work on projects without a close eye of supervision. Most managers are not even aware they are micromanaging – which is part of the reason it can be such a tricky problem to address. But with patience, effort, and persistence, you can learn to create a relationship with your micromanager that is productive and morale boosting. Here’s your roadmap: 1. Observe Become acquainted with what situations the micromanagement tendencies flare up in. When they’re stressed, tired, or otherwise agitated, are they more likely to be controlling? Or does their desire to maintain constant oversight come from an innate urge for perfectionism? Pay attention, so that you can identify future episodes as they start to arise. 2. Address Sit down and talk with them to determine what’s keeping them from giving you complete control in the tasks you complete, and always feeling like they need to revise what you have done? Don’t be afraid to just ask about ways in which you can make your relationship a less controlling one. Maybe there are certain ways you can change what you do to meet your manager halfway. Express desire to prove your competency in the future, and see how they react. If you prefer to avoid direct confrontation, slowly build up an arsenal of tactics to redirect your micromanager’s controlling energy. Always be on time and within the guidelines of assignments as to minimise tension. Treat your micromanager with respect and empathy when they go into overdrive mode. While you don’t want to let them walk over you, see what it’s like to quietly accept their demands instead of arguing back or becoming testy. And don’t be afraid to test out tactics of your own design to cope. 3. Clarify When you’re starting a new project or task, make sure to nail down as many details as possible with your manager beforehand – especially the ones you know that activate your manager’s micromanagement mode. Having a meeting where you make these details clear can also give you room to negotiate about what you think is best for the process, and have a clear rubric that you can stick to in the future, to rely on whenever your work is being questioned or watched too carefully. 4. Empathise Understand that you and your manager have similar goals – at some level, you both want to do what’s best for the company or organization you work for, and churn out work that both of you are proud of. With this in mind, take up the valuable work of understanding how different people approach solutions to the same problem. Try to identify the situations where your own ego is getting in the way of listening to helpful advice from your manager. With these tenets in mind, you’re well on your way to managing the micromanager in your life! DISCOVER: The Best Places to Work UK