The biggest downfall of micromanaging is that it takes away from the autonomy of the person being managed. When a person’s power of self-determination is removed, they can quickly become disengaged and unmotivated, almost ensuring that they never reach their peak performance. It breeds a culture of mediocrity and mistrust.
If you are working under a micromanager, here's how 'Your CEO Mentor' founder Martin Moore suggests you create a better work environment:
- Build Trust. The fastest way to build trust is to deliver results consistently. Provide your boss with updates and any perceived issues that may arise, so they are well informed and confident in your ability to handle your job effectively.
- Respectfully Push Back. Once trust has been built, gentle nudges of non-confrontational statements can help you remind your boss that you have things under control. Examples include: “I understand the objectives I’ve agreed to, and I’m confident I’ll deliver on those.” And “The project is on track. I’ll be sure to let you know if anything is likely to change that.”
- Initiate a Deeper Conversation. Invite your boss to provide feedback to better understand why there is a lack of trust and what you can do to gain their confidence. Be prepared to respond in a calm, understanding manner no matter what answer you receive. A couple of leading questions are: “Is there anything that you need to see from me that you do not see at the moment?” And “What do you need me to do that I’m not currently doing?”
- Make a Choice. Anything that makes your job more challenging is a constraint. If your boss is making your job too difficult, you have to choose to either adjust and live with the constraint or find a new job.
