6 Signs Your Boss is a Micromanager

If your boss calls you twice a day, you might want to read this.

Having a micromanager could be extremely suffocating; however, you can’t find solutions to a problem you’re not sure of. I mean you can’t just label anyone who exercises a degree of control as a micromanager!

To make sure, here are some common signs you should look out for:

1. Every mini task needs approval.

   1. A micromanager can’t give their team any type of control over the work they’re doing. They feel the need to take decisions and approve everything personally.

   2. They discourage independent decision making, no one but them can know the correct workflow.

   3. You find yourself not confident enough to do a task before asking them. You’re scared they’ll blow up 💥.

2. Constant updates.

   1. You might suddenly find yourself spending more time preparing detailed updates and summaries regarding your work than actually doing the work itself.

   2. Your manager sends hourly emails asking how things are going, and you might also find them calling you twice a day! No, it’s not because they miss your voice

3. Poor delegation.

   1. A micromanager hesitates to delegate tasks to their team and is often unwilling to assign certain tasks.

   2. On the rare occasion of assigning a task to an employee, a micromanager ends up doing it on their own and not allowing the employee to do their job normally.

   3. Micromanagers tend to re-do the work after their employees.

4. Overcomplicated instructions.

   1. Even straightforward projects become over-complicated with a micromanager over your head. They’re so obsessed with minor details. Work instructions are so detailed that they become incomprehensible!

   2. They dictate how tasks should be done exactly, mini step after mini step. This might sound like it makes the job easier for the employee, but that’s wrong. Successful outcomes only happen when employees add their own unique and creative input into the tasks they’re given.

5. No trust.

   1. Sometimes, micromanagement could be caused by trust issues. If that’s the case, lack of trust is a clear sign that your boss is a micromanager.

   2. Most of the mentioned examples above are solid red flags that mean you’re not trusted enough to do your job.

6. Can’t see the overall image.

   1. A micromanager is stuck on analyzing details, which makes them and their team take a long time to finish tasks. It becomes mission impossible to hit deadlines.

   2. Being busy doing the low-priority activities of employees, micromanagers fall into a trap. They find themselves failing at their high-level tasks, which creates a chaotic and unorganized work environment.

Now if you feel these signs scream your manager’s name, stay tuned for the next Appendix post! I’ll share some valuable tips to help you deal with your micromanaging boss! 😌