My micromanaging boss is driving me nuts. Help!

Hi Aunty,

I recently moved to a new job and unbeknownst to me, my manager is a micromanager.

He wants me to copy him in all my communications including emails. He wants me to enable him access to view my calendar in MS Outlook. Finally, he loads me up with lots of work which he wants me to complete simultaneously.

What really gets me annoyed is that while I make all efforts to complete as much work as possible, I find out he is also working on the very same work.

What do you advise I should do, to convince him all his efforts are counter productive to my ability to work. He tells me he has to do this because he does not trust me and wants to know every move I make.

Carl,
Cronulla

Dear Carl,

Let’s assume you are doing your work properly and are quite capable – indeed brilliant- if given the opportunity. And between you and me I believe many workers fit into this category.

In this case the problem is that your manager has poor managerial abilities. Or to put it another way, your boss is really bad at his job. Probably the most important part of being a boss is being able to hire the right people, set measurable goals and delegate. And then you get the hell out of the road.

Short of telling your boss he is bad at his job there is not a lot you can do except manage him. When he gives you a job ask him some questions. When does he want it finished? How does he want it done? How will he measure its success? Write that down. Then send it to him to make sure it is all clear before you start.

If he does the work, call him on it. Ask him why he is doing your work and whether there was something that you missed? Tell him you feel you can do much better with more autonomy and responsibility and give him some examples of that.

At the end of a job, run through how it went and tick off the performance measures. Be very professional about it all.

I would also look into getting moved or finding another job. Alternatively he might soon be moved on. Often the reason people micromanage is they are not comfortable doing the job they are meant to do and prefer to do their comfortable old job or pick holes in someone’s job.

Good luck!
Your Aunty B

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