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Your job is probably difficult enough, so having your boss looking over your shoulder as
you work is enough to drive you over the edge. We all deserve a little freedom at work—especially
from the dreaded micromanaging boss. This type of boss plans out in detail what you will be
doing, forces you to follow his schedule, and then reprimands you when you take a five minute
break to use the bathroom and get a drink of water. There are ways to deal with the constant
nagging, so read on.
Finding a happy medium between satisfying the demands of your boss and the demands of your
sanity is not easily achieved, but it is possible. The key is to realize that the discomfort
that you experience is only temporary—that in the long run the boss will change his ways or
you will not be working for him or her anymore. If it’s clear that others feel the same as
you, then it is likely that the boss is at fault. While he may have had many years in the
industry, he may not have learned a proper managerial style. However, you must not be too
hasty to try to “teach” him how to be a boss—this may come across as insubordination, which
could be grounds for your dismissal. Instead, set up a meeting with you, your boss, and some
co-workers at a time when your boss will be able to devote his full attention to the issues
you wish to address.
In the meeting, bring up some of the complaints about your boss’s micromanaging, but make
sure to not sound accusatory. Instead, suggest (and truthfully so) that you and your co-workers
would find the workplace more comfortable if your boss wasn’t inspecting your work every minute
of the day. Make sure to suggest things you and your co-workers can do to still keep him
informed about your progress. These include creating goals for each month or week on the job,
submitting a list of your completed tasks each month or week, and meeting with your boss each
one morning each week to go over your plans for the coming week and your results from the
previous one.
If you make a good enough case, your boss should have no reason to refuse your requests—while
he may not feel his behavior has been unreasonable, a willingness on your part to compromise
will help convince him to change, at least for a trial period. If he sees that many of your
co-workers share your sentiment, he is likely to take a second look at the way he’s been
behaving recently. Of course, if your request for change is refused, you need to be prepared
to take somewhat drastic action—if the problem is bad enough, quitting is a logical solution.
Your résumé will likely not be affected, because most companies understand that there will
be personal conflicts between employees that result in firings or resignations.
You certainly should be careful when discussing this subject with your boss. After all,
what person likes to be told they’re doing things wrong—especially by someone in a lower
position than they are. But if you make your presentation right, include some anecdotal
evidence, offer solutions, and are still rejected, chances are you didn’t really want
that job anyway. Remember, your job should be something you truly enjoy, and if a
micromanaging boss is hindering you from fully enjoying it, there are steps you can and
should take to change your workplace environment.
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