It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. — Steve Jobs
At least 5 out of 10 employees will have an overbearing, micromanaging boss in their careers. And considering how humans have a tendency to tell others what to do, that is a fair statistic.
While some may believe it ensures quality and efficiency, in reality, micromanagement involves excessive control and supervision, which often hinders employee productivity, morale, and overall company success. If you’ve ever found yourself under a micromanager, you’ve probably experienced firsthand how it stifles creativity, reduces job satisfaction, and makes you feel like you can’t fully contribute to your potential.
These are the ways micromanagement will affect an employee’s productivity:
- Erosion of Trust: Imagine being part of a creative team where your manager asks to review every template, vector draft, design, and even minor creative input before it’s sent out. While they may believe this ensures high standards, it ends up demotivating you. Rather than feeling empowered to make decisions, you constantly wait for approval, delaying your work and reducing your efficiency. When a manager constantly oversees every small detail of your work, it sends a message that they don’t trust your abilities or judgment. In turn, you might start second-guessing yourself, questioning your decisions, and even doubting your professional skills. The trust you need to perform at your best is weakened, and the fear of making mistakes increases. You might find yourself focusing more on staying under the radar and less on producing your best work.
- Stifled Creativity and Innovation:You’re working on a software development project. Instead of giving you the autonomy to solve problems or come up with creative solutions, your manager insists on dictating every line of code and method used. This will result in a lack of innovation because you’re too focused on meeting the exact requirements of the micromanager rather than exploring more efficient or creative ways to tackle the task. By controlling every detail, micromanagers leave little room for employees to take initiative or think outside the box. When you’re constantly directed on what to do and how to do it, you’re less likely to explore new ideas or approaches. Your work becomes more about following instructions than about coming up with fresh solutions.
- Increased Burnout: You work at a software development firm where your manager insists on reviewing each milestone in detail before allowing the next phase to begin. The constant checking, feedback, and revisions create an ongoing state of anxiety. What should have been a straightforward task turns into a marathon of approvals, leaving you mentally drained and less productive. Micromanagement will lead to burnout. When you’re constantly being watched and directed, it can be mentally exhausting. You feel like you need to be on your toes all the time, ensuring that everything is perfect for the next round of scrutiny. This leads to stress and frustration, and if it continues, burnout can become a serious issue.
- Decline in Employee Motivation: Imagine working in a customer service role where your manager insists on listening to every call you take and offers unsolicited advice on how to handle situations, even after you’ve proven your competence. While the intention might be to improve service quality, it can make you feel like your judgment is being questioned. Over time, this will erode your confidence and diminish your enthusiasm for the role. When you feel like you’re constantly being watched or controlled, you may start to feel demotivated. It’s draining to know that you’re not trusted to do your job without constant supervision.
- Decision-Making Suffers:If you’re working in a fast-paced sales environment, every lead you pursue or proposal you draft may require approval from your micromanager. Instead of acting quickly to close deals or move the process forward, you find yourself waiting for decisions that should have been made by you. This delay can cost the company time, opportunities, and potential revenue. This management style creates inefficiencies as you must wait for approval on every action.
- Decrease in Employee Retention: When micromanagement becomes a consistent pattern, you may start to feel undervalued and unappreciated. You might even begin looking for opportunities elsewhere because the work environment no longer feels fulfilling. High turnover rates often result from micromanagement, as employees become disillusioned with their roles. If your manager doesn’t give you the space to grow and develop your skills, you could feel stagnant and unmotivated to stay.
Micromanagement is a complete waste of everybody’s time. It sucks the life out of employees, fosters anxiety and creates a high stress work environment. — Brigette Hyacinth
How to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss
If you’re working under a micromanager, try using these strategies to minimize the impact on your productivity:
- Keep Them Informed: Keep your boss informed about your progress before they feel the need to check in constantly. By providing regular updates, you can alleviate their concerns and reduce the frequency of their micromanaging.
- Define Expectations: Ask for clear guidelines and expectations upfront so you can work independently without needing constant direction.
- Seek Feedback: Request constructive feedback regularly, which can help you improve without needing constant supervision.
- Build Trust: Over time, demonstrate your competence and reliability. This will encourage your manager to loosen their control over the project and trust you more.
Conclusion
According to a LinkedIn post by Brigette Hyacinth, a manager’s job is to provide guidance and support. Micromanagement might seem like it’s there to ensure productivity, but it often has the opposite effect. It stifles your creativity, erodes trust, and slows down decision-making, which ultimately hurts both your productivity and that of your team. To thrive in this kind of environment, focus on building trust, communicating clearly, and showing that you can work independently. By doing so, you can regain the freedom to perform at your best, even with the challenges micromanagement throws your way.
