What You Can Do To Survive a Micromanager

by Datasta on July 19, 2008

Have you ever dealt with a micromanager? The manager who is unable to delegate, looks over your shoulder, and makes every final decision? The micromanager who swears they are acting in the best interest of the company, yet, it is quite clear their insecurities are devaluing each employee? Here are four ways to defuse their habit.

1. Communicate Often and Ahead Of Time

Micromanagers need to be in control and they feel they accomplish this by knowing everything that is going on. So, instead of waiting for your manager to request an update, give them an update. Instead of waiting for your manager’s opinion, ask for their opinion. Finally, instead of waiting for their advice, ask for their advice. This will please their micromanaging tendencies and allow you to finally accomplish more work more efficiently.

2. Choose Your Battles and Win Them

Micromanagers will war on every issue and fighting with them will be stressful. The best way to overcome this is by not fighting until you know there is a 100% chance of you winning. However, be aware that being 100% sure will require great preparation and presentation.

3. Work With Them and Not Against Them

Since micromanaging stems from a lack of trust and insecurity, a good way to deal with this is by showing your manager that you are on the same team. Constantly remind them that your main objective is to do stellar work and then deliver it. Consistent performance will accelerate trust and will eventually make the micromanager feel they can loosen their grip.

4. Become A Perfectionist, As Per Your Manager’s Request

Micromanagers fear their employees will make mistakes. However, a mistake is not necessarily a mistake. For a micromanager, a mistake is accomplishing a goal using a method that is foreign to the micromanager.

The easiest way to combat this is to cater to your micromanager’s ideals and process. If you learn to complete tasks in the same manner as your micromanager, you won’t have to deal with the headache anymore.

The Bottom Line

Remember this: Micromanagers micromanage because they lack trust in you. This could be your fault or their fault. The absolute worst thing you could do is become hostile as being a team player works out better in the end.

What do you think?

What have you personally done to deal with a micromanager? Have you used any of the above tactics? If so, share your results.

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Generation Y, The Dumbest Generation

by Datasta on July 19, 2008

Gen Y Social
Photo courtesy of debaird

Generation Y is opinionated and self-aware. The earlier generations know this and are readily attempting to abuse it. Calling them “The Dumbest Generation” is an obvious marketing tactic and here is why.

Generation Y is Social

When Mark Bauerlein titled his book “The Dumbest Generation,” he surely knew that Generation Y would text message their friends the atrocity, Twitter their followers the absurdity, and write articles such as this one. Unfortunately, even negative publicity is good publicity.

Generation Y is Diligent

Despite what statistics say, Generation Y actively seeks to learn more information. We also desire to prove the earlier generations wrong. The best way to do this would be to buy “The Dumbest Generation” and pick it apart, paragraph by paragraph. Mark Bauerlein surely knew this and most definitely sold a few more books.

Generation Y is Educated

Generation Y is the most educated generation as we have the highest percentage of college graduates out of every generation. What we lack in experience, we make up for in book smarts and technological adeptness. Unfortunately, Mark probably knew that, which is seen in Lee Drutman’s following summary:

The way Bauerlein sees it, something new and disastrous has happened to America’s youth with the arrival of the instant gratification go-go-go digital age. The result is, essentially, a collective loss of context and history, a neglect of “enduring ideas and conflicts.” Survey after painstakingly recounted survey reveals what most of us already suspect: that America’s youth know virtually nothing about history and politics. And no wonder. They have developed a “brazen disregard of books and reading.”

My first thought was, “Wow, what an idiot.” However, after further analysis, it is clearly one more way to evoke an emotional reaction from an outspoken generation - it might as well be a blank check with Mark Bauerlein’s name on it.

The Bottom Line

Mark Bauerlein is a marketing genius. He initiated war on the one thing all Generation Y people will fight to protect: their ego. If you haven’t had the chance to read his new book, “The Dumbest Generation,” I highly suggest it. However, while you read this eye-opener, you should consider him an expert. Then, take this quote 100% seriously:

Always listen to the experts. They will tell you what can’t be done, and why. Then do it. - Robert A. Heinlein

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Avoid Diversification, Part 1 of Young Professional Success Factors

by Datasta on July 7, 2008

Diversification Gone WrongPhoto courtesy of skidrd

One of the major mistakes in early career development is diversification since you will be surrounded by people who know more than you. However, instead of trying to learn everything immediately, identify one key skill that is required become the best at it. Such skills include, business writing, excel, presentations, copy writing, time management, organization, etc…

For example, when I started in the workforce, I noticed many people who used excel regularly. I decided to make myself an expert. I learned to automate menial tasks with VB Scripting and Macros, which was unheard of in my area. People knew VB scripting was available, but they had no idea what it could accomplish.

After becoming the expert, I became the “go to” person for excel questions and excel help.  In other words, older, more experienced professionals, asked me for advice.

As long as you give good advice, your older more experienced coworkers will gain trust in you much faster than you could ever imagine.

Have any of you done something similar? Please feel free to share in the comments.

Young Professional Success Factors is ongoing series that will help you succeed as a newly hired employee in Corporate America.

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