Welcome to “Pressing Questions” Fast Company’s mini advice column. Twice a week, Deputy Editor Kathleen Davis, host of The New Way We Work podcast, will answer the biggest and most pressing workplace questions in less than one minute.
Q: How can I deal with a micromanaging boss?
A: Oh, this is SO common. Really, does anyone like being micromanaged? We’ve covered bad bosses a lot and this is the number one complaint, especially with remote and hybrid work. When your boss can’t see you, they feel the need to check in all the time to make sure you’re working.
What this really comes down to is insecurity and a lack of trust. As a first step, it helps to suss out where it’s coming from—if it’s insecurity, it’s more about them than it is about you.
In this case, your boss might be getting a lot of pressure from their boss, and they feel the need to prove themselves in some way and it’s manifesting as hovering over your work.
If it’s lack of trust, it’s that they don’t think you are going to deliver your work unless they remind you and check in. In both cases there are a few ways you can deal with it. The best is to be tactfully direct: if you don’t already have a weekly check-in, suggest that.
Work together to outline exactly what deliverables are expected on a short- and long-term basis and agree on what check-ins will make you both comfortable.
Establish “open communication” times or expectations on when you’ll respond if they tend to randomly call/message you a lot.
Need more advice on how to manage your overbearing manager? Here’s some more reading:
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