“I know it’s only been the first half a week but have you completed the task yet? Where have you been for the last 10 minutes? I told you to do it that way, didn’t I? How come you did it differently?” Any of these phrases sounded too familiar to you? Then you are under the leadership of a micromanager.

Though their actions usually intend for the greater good, these managers did not realise they have invariably made many working environments unpleasant- causing a massive drop in employee engagements, work performances, mental healths and high turnover rates. A Gallup Poll survey in 2017 confirms it – 75% of employees admitted they “left their bosses, not their jobs.”

Are you working under a micromanager and already feeling the heat? You don’t have to quit your job yet. Stay calm and let us help you identify several signs of micromanagement as well as tips on how you can better manage them.

1. When You’re Always Being Told to Do “Their Way”.

Signs: Your manager constantly nitpicks over trivial details. Instead of reviewing your overall work quality, he or she chooses to focus on why you haven’t been replicating her exact “ways” to complete the task. Which conclusively, brings no significance to accomplishing its objectives.

Tips: Schedule a short discussion and set up a short-term plan on how can you both together build reliance and independence. Get your manager to convey his or her expectations and what are the steps you can adopt to achieve them.

2. When They’re Always Watching What You’re Doing.

Signs: You’re being monitored unnecessarily-be it the time taken in attending appointments, lunch or toilet breaks, Internet websites or asking questions unrelated to your work progress.  They even check your online applications to see if you are active or idle.

Tips: Recommend your manager to use a transparent project management tool that will keep track of your projects’ progress.

3. When You Haven’t Been Delegated of A Proper Task.

Signs: Your manager will do almost everything themselves since they think they have a better grasp of knowledge and skills compared to you. Worst of all, they might think it’s faster to revise your work directly instead of allowing you to correct your mistakes.

Tips: Let them entrust you with a small part of the project as a start. The more areas you handle, the higher chance you’ll gain minor wins of credibility.

4. When You Are Doing Too Much Reporting.

Signs: Your manager is always asking for updates either in forms of spreadsheets, word documents or even on your current working timelines. You find that you have exhausted your energy from all of that reporting that you weren’t even sure anyone will read.

Tips:  Ask him or her these pressing questions – are these reports really required within that frequency? Or can my efforts and time be better focused into other areas that will produce more impactful results?

5. When They Don’t Listen To Your Feedback.

Signs: Your feedback is often dismissed, indicating an unhealthy manager-to-employee working relationship. Each time you express your thoughts, they are constantly met with agitation and explosive irritation by your manager -taking them as a backlash.

Tips: Put yourself in their shoes as it may be difficult for them to approve your suggestions due to the company’s strict hierarchical structure. Be patient, as the right time will come when your ideas can be allowed for the better.

While it may not be easy to change your manager within a day or two, the journey should always start with a consistent two-way flow communication built on foundations of trust and respect. Believe us, it’s not you! More often than not, this stems from an outgrowth of their insecurities and these tips can help to mitigate a few.

But should you still feel the need to change your job, perhaps it is time to look elsewhere. Start your search here

Concept by: Rizky Anggara

Design by : Risky Ramanda

Written by: Michell lee