11 Tips for Surviving a Micromanager

Updated on: by Amy Kennedy

Surviving a Micromanager- 6 tips to maintaining your sanity and some level of control when working with a micromanager.If you haven’t run into a micromanager at work, it’s just a matter of time before you do. Micromanagers exist in every field and geography. While their management style may seem soul-numbingly oppressive, you need to recognize that a micromanager is paralyzed by the fear that something under their control is about to go wrong. While it won’t be easy, the following 6 tips will help you survive a micromanager.

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1) Communicate.

Since micromanagers are afraid of being left out of the loop, you’ll need to communicate your progress on a regular basis. While it may seem like a hassle, your choice to actively communicate will allow you a small degree of control. Rather than wait for a last minute status request, your willingness to communicate will reduce your micromanaging boss’s need to know everything right now.

2) Choose your battles.

You’re not going to win all of your battles. Make sure to win the ones that matter to you. To a micromanaging boss, your desire to push them out of your business will make it look like you are trying to hide something. In some cases, the more you push, the harder they will make it for you to succeed. Save your energy and only fight when you know you can win.

3) Create milestones and stick to them.

Micromanagers have a strong desire to know that their projects are on time and on budget. Help them out by creating project milestones and sticking to them. Once you have demonstrable track record, your boss may give you more leeway in accomplishing your goals.

4) Become a perfectionist.

Any mistake you make will fuel your boss’s desire to micromanage you. Double or triple check your work to make sure it is accurate. If you are not a great writer, enlist the help of a friend to proofread your work. While minor spelling or grammar error may not seem significant to you, a micromanager will view any error as a validation of their micromanaging style.

5) Don’t badmouth your boss.

While it could be tempting to let off a little steam, never make public comments about your boss’s micromanaging behavior. If the comments make it back to your boss, your life could get even more miserable. Even if you are planning on leaving the position, you will still need a reference. There is nothing more awkward than having to explain to a new employer that your old boss won’t vouch for you.

6) Understand their communication style

Recognizing your boss’s preferred communication style can go a long way towards alleviating micromanagement tendencies. If they are more of an email person, make sure to send them regular updates via email. If they prefer in-person updates, schedule brief regular catch-up meetings. Understanding their style and adapting to it can help ensure they are receiving the information they need in the manner they find most comfortable, reducing their urge to micromanage.

7) Show initiative

Take the initiative and demonstrate that you can make good decisions on your own. This may involve volunteering for tasks or projects that allow you to showcase your problem-solving skills. By demonstrating your initiative, you prove that you can handle responsibilities, which might convince your boss to give you a bit more freedom.

8) Seek clarification

If your boss is constantly asking for updates or criticizing your work, try asking them for clarification on what exactly they want or expect. This not only shows your willingness to improve and comply, but also makes them articulate their expectations. Once they have done so, it might become clearer to them that they are micromanaging or setting unrealistic expectations.

9) Foster a trusting relationship

Building trust with a micromanaging boss can be a long-term but worthwhile strategy. Consistently delivering high-quality work, meeting deadlines, and showing reliability can help build this trust. Over time, as trust builds, your boss may feel less need to micromanage your work, as they know you’re capable and reliable.

10) Engage in constructive dialogue

If micromanagement persists and you feel comfortable doing so, consider having a constructive, respectful conversation with your boss about your concerns. Use “I” statements to express your feelings and provide specific examples of situations where you felt micromanaged. Ensure that you come to the conversation with possible solutions and show a willingness to understand their perspective. This open dialogue may help improve your working relationship.

11) Know when it’s time to leave.

Sometimes it’s impossible to make a bad situation better. If you feel like you’ve reached the end of your rope, it is time to move on. Ideally, you should try to stay in your position for at least a year but if you have reached the point where you can no longer tolerate going into work, it’s time to move on.

When you leave, make sure to give proper notice and help with the transition of your replacement. It should go without saying that you should stay positive and avoid the temptation to slam your boss. While it may be tempting to warn your replacement of your boss’s micromanaging ways, your comments may come off as sour grapes.

Working with a micromanager is something almost everyone will have to face during their career. While it may be unpleasant, the experience will help you develop the skills and character necessary to excel in business. If you are not a detail-oriented person, a micromanager will definitely help you. If you need work on developing patience, a micromanager will give you the opportunity to develop it. While you may not want to spend the rest of your career under the thumb of a micromanager, a short internship will do wonders for your professional development.

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Jordan

December 15, 2015 at 12:31 pm

I am a micromanager. Quite frankly, I am not particularly ashamed of it. It is incredibly rare that I have an employee prove that my micromanagement is unwarranted. Out of the entire workplace population, I would wager that the number of employees who are not entitled, lazy, oblivious to detail, untalented at their position, or simply uncaring as to whether they do a good job is at less than a quarter of workers.

The vast majority of workers in the United States are lazy and entitled. The desire for a job well done and a sense of urgency is simply not a standard common among our society these days. I have seen it steadily decline in my time in the workforce. People want to be paid more to do less work and on longer deadlines. Almost everyone spends more time on social media tland their smart phones than they do at their tasks. It’s embarrassing.

I happily relent control when I realize I can trust a person to do their job. I don’t expect perfection 100% of the time, but I do expect 100% effort and attention to detail on Every. Single. Project.

If you want to get out from under the thumb of a micromanager, the “Become a perfectionist” tip is the best one. Let’s be honest, though, this should be what you are doing if you want a successful career anyway. If you are not, perhaps you should be analyzing WHY you are being micromanaged.