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Being micromanaged - how to get my line manager to stop it?!

10 replies

evadora · 11/11/2021 04:42

Have been in my job a couple of years. I recently got a new line manager, previously a colleague at my grade.

She is doing my head in as she basically insists on doing my job as well as hers - she tells me what to do about all aspects of my work (I am in a senior role so am expected to manage large areas) and demands I give her daily updates on whether I have done everything she asks, which take up lots of time I should be spending on the job.

Worst of all is she has taken to having meetings on my work areas with colleagues across the organisation, without even inviting me. I therefore don't know what was discussed, lessening my ability to do my job effectively, and making me look like an idiot. She recently wrote a summary of my work area based on speaking to other people but not me, for a range of senior people across the organisation, that completely misrepresented my work area and made out I had done nothing for a year!

She's not deliberately unpleasant and will tell me I've done x piece of work she's 'set' me well. But I am effectively being treated like a very junior, new staff member, while being paid a salary for a senior role.

How do I get her to stop this? I have asked to discuss this with her, but am not sure how to phrase this in a way that isn't rude, but does stop the behaviour.

My assumption is she misses her previous work, dealing with the details of the work, but likes the idea, rather than the actual role of being a higher grade. So she is basically trying to be both grades at once - be a senior manager and also interfere with my work.

Any advice appreciated - she's not an unpleasant person, but it drives me mad. I'm also not sure how much she is like this to everyone, and how much I am getting this treatment particularly because she (wrongly) thinks I am incompetent in some way (I'm not). We haven't worked closely together before so she doesn't really know me.

OP posts:
SimonedeBeauvoirscat · 11/11/2021 04:49

Honestly if she has been your colleague for a few years I would assume she has been frustrated with some aspects of how you do the job and is now using her new role to exercise that opinion. I would say it’s highly likely you will need to look for a new job I’m afraid. Any openings internally which would take you away from her?

evadora · 11/11/2021 04:57

Yes, I am looking to move but not yet - am keen to see through various projects I've been working on for a while before moving elsewhere.

Should add - sorry for dripfeed but my OP was already very long - that her promotion is temporary, so she could end up back at my grade.

As to your second point, we were at the same grade previously but really didn't work together on anything so I don't think she's in a position to have developed an informed opinion of whether I'm any good at my job.

And frankly even if she thought I was rubbish, that wouldn't make her approach to dealing with me appropriate - in that situation, I'd expect her to talk to me about my performance and areas she expects me to work on, SMART targets, development etc. Not just do my job for me!

OP posts:
courtshoe · 11/11/2021 13:27

I would arrange a meeting with her superior snd explained exactly what you have said on this thread.

SimonedeBeauvoirscat · 11/11/2021 16:21

I’m not saying her approach is the right one. Just that it’s going to be quite hard to deal with it. If she’s temporary can you sit it out, how long is it for?

Sunflowers095 · 11/11/2021 20:02

If her promotion is temporary (like a secondment?) then maybe she's desperate to prove herself?

Just speak to her and say "I don't feel like I can work effectively with your management style - I'd rather you addressed issues with me directly and let me carry out my work".

daisychain01 · 13/11/2021 08:49

Do you have your own formalised SMART objectives that you're expected to deliver to?

Hugohugs · 13/11/2021 09:14

How long has she been your manager? Maybe she's just finding it hard to let go and doesn't know how to manage people and is still learning. I say this as someone who was promoted last month and now lead the team I used to be in. It's a steep learning curve and I sort of did the same thing by scrutinising everyone's work because it wasn't how I used to do it. I know that's a dick move and and have to actively remember not to do it anymore but it is difficult.

evadora · 13/11/2021 20:45

Thanks, @Hugohugs - helpful to have the manager's perspective on this.

If someone you line manage wanted to raise this with you tactfully, how would you like them to do this? Assuming that this line manager may not be as good at self-knowledge as you in identifying that their current approach is, as you put it, 'a dick move'. Grin

OP posts:
FlippinFedUp21 · 26/11/2021 06:44

This sounds very much like my previous boss (and one of the reasons I left after 6 years).

  • Lengthy meetings each day to discuss minute details of menial tasks.
  • Toxic group meetings where one or all staff members were berated or patronised in front of others. This was at times so humiliating I had to hold back tears.
  • Routinely asked "Have you not done this?" To pieces of work that had never been discussed or planned, but that I should have somehow psychically guessed needed to be done.
  • continually moving the goalposts and forgetting what has been agreed.
  • staff told to give her their computer passwords
  • blame culture
  • staff visibly nervous in her presence (sweating, stuttering). Terrified basically.
  • clearly favouring certain colleagues and having periods where one of us was in favour and then another
  • ringing and messaging out of hours, either to criticise me or other members of staff
  • once I said I was leaving, the tide turned for me and I could really see the issues. It was really bad. Im much happier now, its improved my life and feel the place I work is fairly normal! Grin
Metabigot · 16/12/2021 18:28

I don't think you can stop it. Micromanagers can't let go
Had one myself it was horrendous. Every attempt to discuss it was met with rage.

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