It happens to us all – you get that annoying boss that just cannot handle letting you do the job without interruption, and insists on keeping tabs on every task he/she assigned you. The following is a list of sure ways to tell if it is time to get on the bus and leave “micromanagement world”…
- You meet with your boss every day (sometimes more than once) – in each meeting he or she will ask for a status update.
- You are asked for delivery estimates for the same task more than once a week.
- Tasks are issued in precise patronizing detail, and all too often verbally.
- No matter how hard you work on a task, the result is never good enough for your boss.
- You spend more time in meetings than actually implementing the solution.
- You have a spare seat in your cube/office and your boss occupies it regularly.
- When away from the office, your boss will call you every day to make sure you’re at work.
- You receive calls from your boss on weekends/evenings and if you’re out sick.
- Your boss has intricate knowledge of your current tasks, down to the level of nitty gritty implementation.
- Your boss coaches you on the precise wording to say to another colleague when asking for something.
- You feel stressed and exhausted before you have even begun implementation.
- Use of headphones is impossible because you cannot complete a music track without interruption from your boss.
- Bathroom breaks are monitored by your boss, if you take too long to shit he/she makes a remark.
- You prefer to work outside office hours because you are more productive that way.
- Your boss never goes on vacation for fear that the company will collapse in his/her absence.
- When leaving the office for lunch you receive a call on your cell about work related issues.
- Your boss is involved in technical decisions when his role is at a much higher level.
- Your boss talks more than he/she listens.
- You are provided with a company cell phone, pager, laptop, etc, and are expected to be on standby 24×7.
- Working from home is strictly forbidden, even when it would be more profitable for the company.
- Your boss has an opinion on your visual presentation, even when you meet the company dress code.
- Meetings are scheduled with 5 minutes notice and sometimes at close of business.
- Your boss eats his/her lunch at your desk.
- Everything is an emergency and cannot wait.
I can think of a few more, but in an effort to keep this post short I’ll leave it at that. [;)]
Disclaimer: The above list was generated from past experience, and not necessarily reflective of my current employment.
wow … I can feel high blood pressure when I read this list. This kind of boss may be a good developer, but not a leader.