Dealing With A MicroManager

Last weekend, I had a scheduled conversation with a mentee, and he spilled the beans about his new boss – a nit-picking micromanager.

The poor guy had grown comfortable with the laid-back working style of his old boss, and the stress of being tracked by the new boss was beginning to stress him. 

“How do I deal with this new boss?” he asked me.

I had a simple suggestion based on my own experience working with a couple of tough micro-managers. 

Be Proactive

If your boss is a micromanager, there is very little you can do. It’s his operating style, and that’s not going to go away, however much you may resist it. He is going to come to you anyway.

So, if he loves details, be the detail guy. Don’t wait for him to come asking; go to him first. Update him on everything you’re working on. It shows you’re on top of things and handling issues at your level. It’s like giving him a backstage pass to your work.” 

Sometimes, being proactive can ease the micromanagement stress.