How can I raise concerns about a micromanaging supervisor at work?

[user8900765]

Hi Im after some advice, next week I need to speak to my manager about my supervisor and how he is micromanaging me. I have bad anxiety at the moment and I know talking to my manager will make my anxiety worse but I also know that things won't get better if I don't speak up but also worry that my manager might think the way my supervisor is with me is ok.
I don't know if I am being over sensitive. I do my job to a high standard and I know my manager doesn't have a problem with my work.

Would it help to put it in an email and send it to your manager ahead of the meeting, so you have time to think about the wording?

Advice - try not to waffle / go into too much detail - keep it concise with a couple of simple examples. Don't say "I may be being over sensitive".

Go in with a positive script.

State the problem, and provide clear examples. Write these down before-hand and keep the descriptions focussed.

Explain the effect on you. For example, you're doing a task, then the supervisor interferes. Breaks your concentration, squashes initiative, wastes time, make you anxious and stressed.

Stress that the supervisor has no problem at all with the quality of your work, nor you with them beyond the micromanaging.

Suggest a solution. For example, could you please tell.the supervisor to back off - perhaps agree what your tasks are to be at the start of your shift, then leave you to it as far as possible. Pitch it as " how can we deal with Micromanager".

But importantly - go in to the meeting with a positive, can-do attittude "got a big of a problem and need your help to fix it" rather than deep moaning and character assassination.of the supervisor.

Good luck! I always hated the micromanaging stop-this-do-that-instead work dynamic.