Have you ever worked with a control freak? Micro manager?

[susan silva]

Have you ever worked with a control freak? Micro manager?  How did (or would) you handle being micro managed?

[Cathy S]

Yes - currently (as well as previously) two of them! One doesn't really know what an Administrator can do to help him and is really not a good manager full stop - it has taken the arrival of a second boss (who knows exactly how much he expects an Administrator to handle) for us to start making a working relationship.  After 2.5 years, for the first time this week he apologised to me because he had snapped at me for something not done by ANO.

The new boss worries about everything and so constantly reminds me about the same things - that really drives me nuts, but at least I can tell him to back off and he listens.

They are hard work, but then the reward of making a breakthrough in their behaviour is all the more for the effort I have had to put in.  Having said that I think that one has to be really confident of their own ability to be able work successfully with these types.

Cathy

[spitfire78]

Current big bossie is a control freak.  He sticks his nose in every little thing and wants to decide on every little detail.  It doesn't affect me as much as it does my boss and his admin - they are always complaining about it.  One good thing is that when each of them had their review with him, they each brought it up to him.  They explained how much extra work it causes when he interferes in something they are handling, and then later on changes his mind about how he wants it done!!!!  We're hoping he will take it to heart and make an effort to back off a little bit.  He's got a really good crew here, and it would be a shame to misuse them.

[Katie G]

Same here with the big boss being a control freak.  Seriously, the man doesn't have enough to do if he can get all worked up over the design of our department's fax cover sheet!

Edited to add:  There's nothing wrong with it!  It's been already approved by the communications department!

Edited by didface on 27/06/08 05:52 PM.

[peaches2160]

I have worked for micromanagers.  It is frustrating.  I prefer the current arrangement, we meet, we go over the goals and objectives of the project, begin with the end in mind, and it's mine.  We do touch base at certain intervals to make sure we are on track.

Just remember, they are the boss.  Our role is to support them.  If they prefer to be involved in everything and waste time they could be using more productively running the business, it is not for one to argue with the boss.

Might want to look into some good training classes for managers and suggest a few.

[raindance]

I worked with a micro-manager for nine years.  

An example of her micro-managing: Bossie's office was next to mine and she could see into the administration office.  The phone rings.  I pick up phone and deal with call, and put down phone.  A couple of minutes later, Bossie calls me into her office.  "Who was that on the phone?"  "It was so-and-so".  "What did so-and-so want?"  "They wanted to know the time of the next meeting of X Committee" "What did you say?"  "I said ...." "What did they reply?"  "I replied ...." and so on and so on.

Eventually, I left - when I found my current post.  

The thing that irritated me most afterwards was that my replacement was less well-qualified and less experienced, but was employed at a higher salary and with an enhanced job-profile.  

[raindance]

Forgot to answer last bit of query: how did I handle Bossie?  By being very very patient.  Except that one day, I did ask her whether she would prefer it if I transferred ALL calls through to her.  Hehehe.  Needless to say, that offer wasn't taken up.

That company didn't have email until after I left and they purchased a new computer system.  The hilarious thing was that I heard that only managers were allowed to send emails!!!!!!!!!! Until Bossie retired and then everyone was free to work responsibly.  

I was much younger then - wouldn't stand for it now even for five minutes.

[gee4]

You know what, if I have I prob wouldn't notice, cos I'm such a control freak myself! LOL

After 5 years in my second perm job, a leaving do and presentation was organised for me.  My boss, in his speech, said I reminded him of a song.....My Way.  It wasn't until afterwards when a colleague/friend pointed out that I realised he was actually getting a dig in.

Actually for me it was a compliment.  I ran a very busy office and supervised the work of a junior while supporting 2 heads of department and a team of lecturers and believe me, it worked!

I believe if someone wants to micro manage, then fine, go ahead, but don't come running to me when you want my help.  I'm hired to do a job so let me get on with it.

[spitfire78]

Oh Didface, you made me laugh - our big bossie did the same thing.  He needed to approve our fax coversheet before we could put it into use.  Never mind that there are 3 very professional people working in this office who are more than capable of designing a blasted coversheet!