How To Handle A Micromanager

Kory Kogon

Being micromanaged is frustrating and can kill engagement. It’s important to discover why your boss is micromanaging you because it will allow you to formulate a plan to address it. Explore the following points to get a better idea of why you are being micromanaged and solutions to it:

Your boss thinks you need improvement. Do you? Find out now specifically how they measure success so you are both on the same page.
Your boss doesn’t seem to trust you. Clarify exactly what your boss wants, then deliver on time and with expected quality.
Your boss is insecure. In this case, over-communicate. Is a weekly progress report enough? Or does your boss prefer a daily update?
Your boss is under pressure. Try anticipating their needs before they even have a chance to ask.
Your boss is overly controlling. If you’ve tried everything and there’s still no change, decide if it's worth lodging an official complaint or it might be time to look for a new position.

Don't let 1-on-1s slip into the ineffective and monotonous territory of simple status reports and progress checks. Get 100+ questions to improve your 1-on-1s and use them to engage your people, uncover issues, and unleash potential.

About the Author

Kory Kogon is FranklinCovey's Vice President of Field Development. Kory's focus is to help strengthen the capacity of the field teams to be highly consultative, while driving revenue and renewal within FranklinCovey's new and exciting subscription model, the All Access Pass. Kory is also one of the authors of the Wall Street Journal bestseller "The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity", in addition to "Project Management Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager" and "Presentation Advantage". She has over 25 years of business expertise from front line positions to an executive team member. Prior to FranklinCovey, Kory spent six years as the Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations for AlphaGraphics, Inc.
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