It is incredibly frustrating to have a boss that micromanages. You may feel that your boss does not trust you or, worse, you start to feel insecure and doubt your good work. Unfortunately, the only way to resolve the issue is to speak to your manager. We understand that telling your boss she micromanages is not as easy task, so we have provided useful tips on how to professionally approach the situation.
The Reason For Micromanaging
The first thing you need to do is figure out why your boss is micromanaging. It is one of two things: the quality of your work or it’s your boss’ personality. The good news is that the majority of times it is your boss’ personality. The bad news, it’s still your problem to solve.
If you did something that made your boss not trust in your work you will need to address it. Let your boss know that you understand your mistake and that you are looking to improve. Keeping track of your successes going forward should help lead to less micromanaging. If it’s your boss’ personality that causes the micromanaging, the conversation is going to be a little more difficult. The idea is to address the situation in a professional manner without insulting your boss.
A boss that micromanages is usually one that has a lot of anxiety. The anxiety leads to the desire to control. This means that even though you are awesome at your job, your boss may still want to tell you what to do. The only way to help ease your boss’ anxiety and desire to control is to show and prove that you don’t need her to overlook your shoulder on every single task.
Make A List Of Your Successes And Failures
Before meeting with your manager, make two lists: your successes and your failures. Make a list of all of the projects that you worked on with little to no interference from your manager. This will remind your boss that you are very capable of doing what you were hired to do without being micromanaged. Make a second list of all of those projects where your boss interfered and the project didn’t turn on to be a success or go as planned. This list will show your boss that maybe it would have gone better had she not been so involved. Do not tell your boss that it was her fault, but rather that had you more time to work on your own, a better outcome may have resulted. Tell your boss that you are confident in your skills and that by she not interfering limits confusion and saves time for you both.
Keep Your Boss In The Loop
No news is bad news, if you are a micromanager. Make a plan with your manger on how you can keep her updated. Whether that is a weekly meeting, phone call or simply an email, giving an update can ease her anxiety. Remember that your boss may have to report to someone as well, so giving updates may help her be better prepared to give updates to her manager.
Ask For A Small Project
If you have a boss that is still resilient even after showing her all of your successes and keeping her in the loop, it may be best to ask for a small project. Ask your manager for a small project that you can do on your own without interference. If that works, keep asking for projects with more and more responsibility as you build her trust.
Goal Setting
When meeting with your manager to discuss your performance, ask how you can improve. This is a great time to mention that you would like more responsibility to manage projects on your own. If your boss has any trust issues, this is the time she would most likely mention them.
Set Boundaries And Ask For A Deadline
When presented with a project, as your manager if there is anything specific you need to know about that project. Whether it’s important information or just her opinion, getting it out in the open may limit her interference down the road. Also, ask for a deadline. While this may seem obvious, not all managers give deadlines. Providing a deadline may keep your manager from asking for updates until that time.
This will take time and patience. Your boss will most likely not change overnight. When frustrated, remind yourself that it’s not your work, but her personality. If you have done everything possible to try to build your manager’s trust and she is still micromanaging, it may be best to look for a new position.
This article is intended for informational purposes only. It provides general information and is not intended and should not be construed as professional advice. The author is not your attorney, accountant, financial planner or any other professional and no professional-client relationship is created. We do not represent that the information provided is accurate or up-to-date as laws and regulations are always changing. If you have an issue that requires professional help, you should contact the appropriate professional to help you on your specific set of facts. Please read the Terms and Conditions for additional information.