7 steps to survive your micro-managing boss
August 26th, 2011
We have all had one at sometime during our career; the micro-managing boss. Information is like crack to him. He wants to know everything that is happening and even expects people to check in and out when they leave the office. Micro-managers think they are saving the world, but actually they are wasting company resources, time, and alienating employees, causing their staff to be disengaged from the company.
Here are seven tips to help your micro-managing boss break their nasty habit of excessive control:
- Forward all the department’s office phones to his cell phone since he needs to know everything that’s going on.
- Change your voice mail message to something like this: “Thank you for calling me, however, since my boss needs to know every detail in our department, I am not really the person you should call. Tell him what you need first and I will wait until he can happily give me all the detailed instructions. However, please expect delays as our boss is very busy taking all these phone calls. Have a nice day!”
- Forward all your company email to your boss, and ask your friends to either text or instant message you if they need you.
- When you check-in to leave for the restroom, make sure he sees you carrying a very large can of air freshener. Maybe this will prevent him from following you to the restroom stall to get an update on your project. Hint: If he follows you anyway, spray air freshener in his direction every couple of minutes.
- With every email you send your boss throughout the day, also send a text message reminding him you just emailed him.
- If you take a vacation, which is doubtful, hire a college student to pose as your personal assistant. Have your personal assistant call your boss at 8am and 5pm each workday to remind him you are on a cruise vacation and unavailable, but you are thinking about work.
- Take lessons from a psychic to see if you can learn how to read minds. That way you can answer micromanager’s questions before he asks them.
Maybe you can come up with some more micro-managing busting ideas. Looking forward to your comments.
Posted by Kevin Kennemer
Kevin Kennemer, the founder of The People Group, is a great workplace advocate, consultant, speaker and writer who blogs daily on relevant workplace issues regarding company culture, leadership, worklife trends, and how companies can exceed their financial performance expectations by treating employees with dignity, trust and respect.
