As of: March 15, 2024, 4:57 p.m
By: David Holzner
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Does your boss control every step of your work?
He could be a micromanager.
How to recognize and deal with this type of boss.
You are sitting at your desk.
You are focused.
Their entire focus is on getting their work done.
Suddenly you feel this strange feeling in your back, like someone is watching you.
They turn around.
Your boss is standing behind you, looking intently over your shoulder.
In general, he wants to be informed about every little detail of your work steps.
He reads all your emails, checks your progress several times a day, and gives you the feeling that you can't get anything done on your own.
Even when you're working from home, you're not safe from his constant calls.
Be careful: your boss could be a micromanager.
How to recognize this type of boss and what you can do about it.
Control at work: What signs indicate a micromanager
It can be stressful for employees if the boss is constantly looking over their shoulder.
© Science Photo Library/IMAGO
Every task must be approved:
For micromanagers, the thought of giving control to their team members is unimaginable.
They often believe that they are the only ones capable of making good decisions.
Constant Updates:
Micromanagers are obsessed with constant updates from their employees.
This can lead to employees being overwhelmed at work.
They spend more time creating detailed updates than doing the actual task.
Inability to delegate tasks:
Micromanagers lack trust in their employees.
Forbes.com
explains that micromanagers fear looking bad.
They are afraid of putting their name on work that is not as good as if it had come from them.
In every email in the CC:
Micromanagers want to be involved in every communication and are always reading.
Overcomplicating tasks:
Obsessing with small details causes even simple projects to quickly become very complicated.
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Micromanagers have the false impression that more supervision equals better performance.
They want to control aspects of their employees' work and decision-making to an extreme degree, according to a
Harvard Business Review
article .
Trust is difficult for these bosses.
This can be frustrating for employees.
Self-confidence is weakened and creativity is severely impaired.
In the worst case, micromanagement can lead to employees terminating their employment contract.
Additionally, the increased workload can lead to stress, anxiety and depression from work.
Micromanagement at work: What you can do about it
Micromanagement can have a negative impact on employees.
You lose confidence in your own competence.
Plus, you're afraid of making mistakes.
Further development is therefore difficult.
What you can do if you work under a micromanager:
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Tessa West, a professor of psychology at New York University, recommends
setting expectations with your boss in an article from
Theguardian.com .
Set small weekly goals that you are certain to achieve.
This means you can demonstrate success on a regular basis.
Get ahead of your employer.
Try to give updates before your boss asks.
This creates trust and shows that you are a reliable employee who is able to carry out your tasks independently.
Try to have a clarifying conversation in which you clearly explain your point of view.
Many micromanagers are unaware of what they are doing and the impact it can have on you.
If these actions don't make a difference, it's probably time to contact HR.
Excessive control: Why do bosses become micromanagers?
But why do bosses become micromanagers in the first place?
According to
Harvard Business Review,
many managers are unable to leave their old job.
Managers are promoted based on their ability to achieve operational goals, manage budgets and solve problems.
However, at higher levels they are forced to scale back their operational focus.
You have to trust your employees to handle day-to-day business.
For many managers, this is a difficult transition and they unknowingly continue to spend time in the operational world of their employees.