Having a boss who micromanages can be difficult. This is especially true for engineers, since many engineers prefer to work with little guidance and lots of room for creative innovation. Unfortunately, there are a lot of companies that have bosses who micromanages, and not only is it very annoying to work under someone who constantly scrutinizes and changes your work to the point where it isn’t recognizable as your own, but it is also very counterproductive for your career growth as an engineering professional.
So what do you do if you are assigned to work under a micromanager? It may be difficult, but there are ways to be able to make things work in both your favors. Hopefully these tips will help you have a good, less-toxic, working environment.
Buildup Your Self-Esteem
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It’s important to have confidence in yourself and your work if you are working under a micromanager. Remember, you were hired in this position. You were hired because you have the skills that can help the company grow.
It’s difficult to build self-esteem when your micromanaging boss continues to bring you down, but remember that if you know you are doing your part well in your job, continue to do your best and carry on.
Talk to Your Boss Directly
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It may sound scary, but it’s actually the best thing to do if your out of options. If you talk to another manager about the issue, your boss will find out eventually and feel that you went over their head. Likewise, talking to the HR might not be the best way to go around the problem as well. An HR’s role is to help protect the company from serious legal risks like lawsuits. Escalate this problem to the HR only if talking with your boss one-on-one doesn’t work. It’s best to talk to your boss directly, and explain the situation to him/her.
Treat your boss like a customer
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When you decide to talk to your boss directly about this problem, think about him/her as your customer. Try to come up with a solution that will make the both of you meet halfway. So for example, if your boss constantly checks on your work every 15 minutes (nope, it isn’t exaggerated, they do exist) try suggesting to him/her that if they prefer, you could send them an update through email every 30 mins or when a task bullet has been accomplished.
This way, you are taking control of the situation, and you’re giving your boss a sense of security that you are doing your job.
You could also send him/her a daily report at the start and end of your shift, to give them an overview of the the tasks you plan to finish for the day.
It’s possible to work under a micromanager. It may sound impossible now, but if you try to have a one-on-one talk with your boss, and he/she responds positively you may be able to create a better working environment with a little more freedom.
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