From BZ/dpa
Your superiors always want to know exactly what you are doing – and you lack the freedom to work independently? Then your bosses may be inclined towards micromanagement. That can help.
Trust is good, control is better? If you have to get the approval of your superiors for all work steps and document the work down to the smallest detail, that can cost a lot of time.
Because if you are constantly busy reporting what has just been discussed where with whom, you will be constantly interrupted, according to career advisor and qualified psychologist Ragnhild Struss in a blog post. Too many questions from superiors often caused employees to doubt themselves.
She advises employees who want more freedom at work not to wait to be asked or checked – but to take the initiative themselves.
You could do that, for example, by sending small status reports without being asked. In the best case, after a while, superiors develop the feeling that they can rely on them – and the frequency of interference becomes less, according to Ragnhild Struss.
Schedule regular appointments and agree on clear goals
Ragnhild Struss, on the other hand, advises against discussions about who is right about the smallest details of the procedure. That could increase the “need for control” of superiors.
If the topic is bothering you, the psychologist recommends seeking an open discussion with the manager. There you can formulate in “I-messages” what triggers the excessive controlling in you, how it has a negative effect on work motivation and results.
Compromises could then be found, for example, by promising to approach the manager immediately in the event of problems or difficulties. And by arranging regular appointments for which all important information on ongoing tasks and projects is prepared.
It also makes sense to clearly define together with the supervisor which goal is to be pursued, when and, if necessary, by what means – and record the agreement in writing.