Working for a micromanager is a complete nightmare. However, there’s a common misconception that micromanagers are mean, condescending people who rule with an iron fist. This couldn’t be further from the truth. A micromanager isn’t necessarily a bad boss. In fact, they might have the best intentions for their team but simply have poor management skills. This holds the employees and the business back from succeeding. The unfortunate part is that most employees have worked with a micromanager during their careers. A LinkedIn report found that 79% of employees have been micromanaged at least once in their careers. Here are some signs that your boss is a micromanager.
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They Monitor Every Action At Work
There’s always that one guy who constantly hovers over their employees and monitors them all day long. They’ll walk up and down the office without any reason just to look at what the employees are doing. While some level of monitoring is necessary for the workplace, it’s important not to go overboard lest the employees end up feeling like animals in a zoo. 4 Ways To Be More Assertive At Work And In Your Personal Life
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They Believe They Know More Than Everyone Else
A micromanager believes that they’re the smartest in the room. Therefore, their word goes and they try to impose their method of doing things on everyone else even when there’s an easier and better way of doing it. This can be frustrating for the employees since it limits their freedom to learn and make mistakes on the job. It also makes employees less likely to participate in the workplace since their contribution will most likely not be considered.
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They Over-Communicate
When it comes to communicating with your work colleagues, simplicity is key. It’s important to keep it short and sweet so that the receiver can get your point. However, a micromanager will go to the extreme to communicate their message. They will leave paragraphs of instructions that can be easily summarized in a few lines and in most cases, the person receiving the message is not able to get the point. If you and your team members cringe when you get a notification from your boss, then you’re dealing with a micromanager.
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They Ask You To Account For Every Minute Of Your Day
There’s nothing wrong when your boss wants to know what you’ve been doing the whole day. After all, it’s their job to make sure everyone stays busy and the company get value for their money. However, a micromanager will always want to get updates about your work. They are most likely to misuse employee monitoring software and even threaten employees with this software. They simply refuse to trust that their employees are actually working and always try to catch them slacking.
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They Obsess Over Minor Details
Does your boss make you redo something multiple times because of minor details? News flash, they’re a micromanager. Micromanagers tend to be toxic perfectionists and in most cases, it’s their way or the highway. Therefore, if you don’t do something exactly how they want, then they will let you know. They tend to hyper-focus on small details without seeing the bigger picture. Working in such an environment can easily have a negative effect on your self-confidence since it feels like you can’t get anything right. Things To Consider When Setting Up Boundaries At Work
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They Never Relinquish Control
A good boss tries to delegate some duties to other employees that they feel can handle them. This is important in the workplace since there’s someone other than the boss who people can consult in case they’re not around. It also takes a lot of work off their shoulders allowing them to run the company, business or department more effectively. A micromanager, on the other hand, can never relinquish control. They need to have a hand in every project and employees have to constantly consult with them.
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