Situation · Work
“My manager micromanages everything I do”
What could be going on
Must control details: Needing to control every detail fits; check whether it eases when things feel calm.
Generalised anxiety: Control often calms worry; check whether they seem anxious about mistakes generally, not only yours.
Theory X and Theory Y: Fits if they assume people slack without watching; check how they talk about staff in general.
Peter principle: Fits if they were promoted from your role and retreat into doing it rather than managing.
Obsessive-compulsive personality (OCPD): Fits if rigid perfectionism shows everywhere: lists, rules, rework, no delegating.
Role conflict and ambiguity: Check whether expectations were ever agreed; unclear standards push managers into checking everything.
Questions to carry
- Which tasks draw the closest checking, and what is at stake for my manager on those?
- How does my work change while I am being checked on, and how do I feel about it?
Also said as
- my boss checks every single email I send
- she won't let me make any decision on my own
- how do I deal with a micromanaging boss
- he redoes my work even when it's fine
- boss hovering over my shoulder all day
- my supervisor controls every little detail