I think we have all had one in our lives…maybe he wasn’t even your boss, maybe she was your girlfriend, or maybe he was your dad…or maybe she was just your manager. *cringe* I still remember the couple micromanagers I had…thankfully it was only a couple. Took me a couple times to learn and figure how to steer clear of those.
The problem with micromanagers is they can be so damn stifling and draining. Stifling because they are just on your game…even when your game is on. Draining because not only do you have to do the work, you now have to explain the work before and after…step. by. step. *cringe* I still remember having to write out how I intended to draft up each of my slides for the night.
I thought her ask probably took more than the 4 hours I had that night, before hitting it hard again at the client the next day. In her mind though, I had more than enough time. So here we are over dinner (while she sips her wine) and I am writing out and explaining my intent with each slide and having to defend myself “slide x will take 45 min and not 15 min…” *cringe*
You see the thing with these micromanagers is that they typically possess one or a combination of some of these traits/issues: inability to trust, feeling insecure, lacking maturity, disorganized. Keep in mind I am assuming here we are all competent and decent individuals, and hence the micromanagement is inappropriate (separate debate as to when micromanagement is actually appropriate…think chasing down your general contractor when it takes them 6+ months to put a BBQ in your backyard).
Trusting is a learnt skill for me and fortunately for others it’s an innate personality trait. Either way, when a manager does not trust, it can be very frustrating for those around him as he spends his time questioning and poking at everything.
Insecurity abounds – this one is a tough one because it typically works with lacking trust. A manager is insecure in her abilities and therefore doesn’t trust her subordinates to 1) do the work or 2) do the work and take the spotlight….so this manager constantly needs to be in the nitty gritty of things so she can understand everything and act as if she did all the work. painful.
Maturity is also a key factor. Newly minted managers sometimes don’t know how to delegate and effectively manage – they are so use to “doing” that they don’t step back to mentor instead. Hopefully time graduates these guys.
Finally, there will always be that group of managers who are just all. over. the. place. These guys can be eccentric – often bouncing from project to project, swooping in and out….sometimes with brilliant thoughts, sometimes not so…they don’t have a good way of organizing and prioritizing their time so they can get hooked on a project and end up taking a stint as a micromanager. sad.
So you ask – how do you deal with the micromanager boss?
- Ask them if they have any specific concerns regarding the project/presentation/initiative that you are working on
Get a better gauge of what is bugging them out – is it because you’re relatively new to modeling and he’s scared you will trip up or is it because this project will dictate whether she would be considered for partner not. Either way, leverage that information to make it YOUR project to address those concerns. People have a way of letting go when they find someone who just gets them. It’s human nature.
2. Tell them your proposed schedule of check ins
Don’t let your manager dictate his schedule of check ins. You will be consumed all day and all night. Do yourself a favor and propose a schedule of check in that you are comfortable with…and sometimes you may have to increase it just a tad bit…but only in the beginning as you earn their trust and help them let go a bit.
3. Check in
Follow through and check in. Always stay to your proposed schedule…and even when things aren’t so rosy (more reason to check in). During the check in – remind your manager what his/her initial concerns were and walk them through how you nailed it for them.
Worst case scenario, if the above doesn’t work (after a few rounds)…sit down with and tell them! I am a big believer of confronting your issues. No, not the shout in your face type. But professional, kind, and honest communication that aims to fully express ones feelings. Sometimes things can get so stifling that you end up losing your game…that is never a winning situation…so sit down, air your concerns, and see if you can steer if back to #1 above.
Tell me how you dealt with your MM Boss~ I’m sure there are some funny…and not so funny stories out there.
MKS