Comments on: Micro-Managers https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html Everything to make HR better Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:36:22 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 By: Micromanajerks https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1763 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 01:47:50 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1763 I have worked for several micromanagers.. one in particular who manages every detail he possibly can about my work. Even when he is out of town he calls in constantly and will call others with whom I work with to check on my work. After five years of working closely with him he has gotten slightly better but I can always tell when his personal life is on the rocks because he becomes that much worse of a micro manager. It got so bad that I created a website for others and myself to vent anonymously… http://www.micromanajerks.com/ because I needed some place to vent. Everything I try with the boss doesn't work so I figured I may as well help others in my shoes with a good laugh and to know that they are not alone.

]]> By: Anonymous https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1762 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:54:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1762 Sorry to weigh in late, but I also think the writer made a big mistake by correcting the original presentation and resending it to the meeting attendees. That makes her boss look bad, and would certainly cause her not to trust the writer. Going around the boss instead of through the boss always causes problems.

]]> By: HR Wench https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1761 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:56:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1761 My official HR opinion is:

Dude, that is messed up.

]]> By: The Ethical Slut https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1760 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:24:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1760 I’ve had two female managers that fit your description to a T. I think the comments are probably valid, but it just reminds me too much of these women: conniving, backstabbing, sabotaging, hysterical and overly personal. One canceled my sales appointments with big clients over and over…and then went herself and blamed me! The other cried when I didn’t invite her out to drinks with 2 of my coworkers. Read Queen Bee and Tripping the Prom Queen (and also Toxic Coworkers, just to round out your workplace education)

]]> By: Evil HR Lady https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1759 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:58:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1759 Excellent suggestion, Wally.

]]> By: Wally Bock https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1758 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:04:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1758 As Ask a Manager says, we only have one side of the story. But here’s something I use with coaching clients who often sound like the writer.

When you’re thinking about how your manager treats you ask if she’s specific about what you did wrong, or if she uses phrases like “always” as in “you always hand in sloppy work.” Specific criticism of individual bits of work is usually a sign that the manager is trying to teach.

When you’re thinking about how your manager talks to you, pay attention to whether she criticizes you or your work. If the language is about you as in “you’re a disappointment” there may not be much hope of salvaging the relationship. On the other hand if she talks about your work and how to fix it, or that your work is not the quality she expected, it’s likely things will ultimately work out if you and she work at it.

]]> By: Anonymous https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1757 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:53:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1757 I had a similar situation happen to me. My boss was overpromoted (promoted beyond her capability) and set up to fail by our senior management. She hired me and made me do a lot of her managerial bumpf which she took credit for at closed senior meetings, where I could neither present my work or even take half of the credit for it. I stuck around for a year but it was a brutally toxic environment when your desire to do good work is impeded by someone who is working so hard to cover their own ass that they would stoop to this level.

]]> By: Ask a Manager https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1756 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:27:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1756 My role is to spread rain throughout the world, it seems. 🙂 I don’t mean to discount the possibility that the employee is in the right; god knows there are more bad managers out there than good ones.

]]> By: Evil HR Lady https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1755 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:52:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1755 Very insightful, oh managerial expert. You are probably right and I am probably over defensive of the people who write me.

]]> By: Ask a Manager https://www.evilhrlady.org/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1754 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:42:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2008/02/micro-managers.html#comment-1754 Re: the writer’s paragraph about how the manager says he’s not good with details and corrects his work — well, it’s possible he’s not good with details and his work needs correction. In fact, at his experience and tenure level, I’d pretty much expect his work will need *some* correction. So there might be another side to this story that we’re not hearing. I’d also note that the writer’s statement that “I have not put the company in danger or risked losing money, so I don’t see why this criticism is necessary” shows some naivete — your boss wants you doing good work even if the consequences aren’t so serious. It’s possible this manager is hands-on but not inappropriately micromanaging, and the employee is bristling at it without lots of cause….?

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