My boss is a micromanager and constantly checks in on the status of the projects she gives me. It takes up so much time that I can’t be productive. How do I tell her to keep my job?
It’s more tactful than that.
There are two possible scenarios – your boss is a micromanager, or she doesn’t trust you to manage timelines and deliverables.
If it’s the former, that’s a hard habit to break, as people like this usually are.
Try explaining that you have to spend a lot of time preparing and responding to constant check-ins, which reduces your productivity.
Try to establish a reasonable cadence of updates that won’t place too much of a burden on you but still allows her to feel up to speed.
If she has reason not to trust you to manage the project more autonomously, well, that’s a performance issue.
Seek opportunities to regain her trust.
I’m calling BS based on your suggestion that the manager has to change the casual way he says “Hey guys” to his employees because one of the employees doesn’t agree with it and is too sensitive to be offended. Let’s stop bowing to every snowflake and tell them if they don’t like it, the door is right there?
Be careful – that door might be a swinging door, and with that attitude, it might hit you hard before getting you out.
However, I received a lot of feedback from managers expressing similar frustrations.
I see. I do think some “microaggressions” are a little too precious and flimsy, and I do think some employers sometimes go too far in trying to cater to everyone.
That said, I don’t think this is one of those situations.
If a manager calls his team “Hey girls” or “Hey [fill-in-the-blank with something more provocative.]”
This is not a locker room and you are not hanging out with your friends where the norms may be different and accepted.
This is work – a professional environment where speaking to people in a respectful manner is basic courtesy, no matter how close you are to the team.
Got it, man?
Gregory Giangrande has more than 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Listen to Greg Wednesday. Tune in to iHeartRadio 710 WOR at 9:35 AM, hosted by Len Berman and Michael Riedel. Email: GoToGreg@NYPost.com. Follow: GoToGreg.com and Twitter: @GregGiangrande
