How to Handle a Micro-Manager in your Procurement Role
A Micro Manager created by DALL-E (AI).
The Procurement Micro Manager
I have a boss who micro-manages everything. It's doing a number on my career, and I don't know what to do.
Have you ever considered asking yourself this?
I have?
Almost at every career phase, I've had to manage a problematic micro-manager.
Some have forced me to look for new pastures.
Some have fortunately been booted out of the door. Cya.
But this can have a demoralising effect on you as a Procurement Professional. To the point where this is having an impact on your mental health.
And I want to help you here.
My boss is driving me insane.
Your boss is driving you insane.
It's not their fault; they're just doing what bosses do—managing. Actually - sometimes it is their fault. My one observation from dealing with those who meant to micro-manage and those that didn't (my assumption) is that it doesn't matter.
All that matters is how they made you feel.
Because when you don't want to get out of bed to go to work - you're in trouble. The hours go by slowly, and your boss is constantly watching over your shoulder, ensuring everything is being done correctly and according to their working method. In the remote working setting, it might be the barrage of slack messages you receive before the working day starts.
Or the ask to be cc'd on all your emails.
Direct instruction not to talk to anyone more senior in your business without your manager's permission.
Or the infamous - "got 5 mins now to talk" with no context. This causes you to have a heightened sense of anxiety at multiple points of the day for no reason.
This is not healthy.
Perhaps your colleagues have gotten used to this way of life. Still, sometimes I'm being too sensitive since everyone else seems okay with this type of behaviour from our leader?
If you're thinking that - the answer is no. Reach out to some of those colleagues and carefully determine their thoughts. If there are more of you, that gives you an excellent case to go to the top and raise these concerns. Senior Leadership values collective feedback here. One voice may sadly get lost. Multiple voices increase the chances that your voice won't be lost.
How do I know if my boss is a micro-manager?
Your boss is a micro-manager if:
They constantly tell you what to do. You should always know your role as a procurement professional, but if your boss is telling you to do things outside of that role, it's time to get out.
Suppose they're telling you how to write an email or asking for help with their PowerPoint slides and not giving you any credit for doing the work. In that case, they're micro-managing inappropriately.
They constantly check up on what you're doing. This could be through email updates or meetings where they go over everything in their department—even when there isn't anything going on! If your boss wants updates about projects, it's one thing because it helps them feel like they're staying informed and relevant in their role. However, suppose they are checking up on all aspects of your job without any reason except being nosy and controlling. In that case, this is definitely indicative of micromanagement issues at play.
They have an opinion about everything... even though they don't have any knowledge base around those topics! The best bosses will listen before speaking. They'll ask questions first so they can understand where someone else might be coming from before offering their input because they believe it will help improve outcomes overall (i.e., we want our team members' ideas included to maximise success). Bad bosses offer judgmental advice when none was asked for or needed - even when it isn't applicable!
Why does my boss behave this way?
If you ask your boss why they micromanage, here's what they might say:
"Because I'm insecure."
Well, they might say this in their mind.
They'll likely shut you down and micro-manage even more. Because hey, they don't want the challenge.
Insecurity is a common reason for this behaviour.
When a manager is unwilling to take a chance on something new or to trust the judgment of others, it can lead to micro-management. In a weird way, it makes sense that they would want to keep their hands on all the decisions and processes in case things go wrong. Because if it goes wrong, it's coming back to them from senior Leadership. But if they choose the route of micro-management over trust and mentorship, their team's performance will always be sub-par.
What can I do about it?
If you feel your manager is micro-managing, it's time to take action. Here are five steps you can take:
Communicate Your Concerns
Be Firm and Assertive
Set Boundaries
Use a Mentor or Coach
Find a New Job If You Are Unable To Resolve The Situation
Communicate Effectively
When dealing with a micro manager, being direct and honest is the best way to get your point across. If you don't want to do something, say so. Of course, you cannot tell your manager you don't want to do your job. But if they ask you to cc' them in every email you send out - that's unreasonable. And it would be best if you let them know that and directly state you will not be doing this.
Avoiding conflict can be tempting, but your boss will respect you more for speaking up. Sometimes. This works with those who are unintentionally micro-managing you. The ones who do it from an intentional perspective won't care.
Don't let your procurement career be ruined by your micro-manager boss.
Please move on if the problem doesn't resolve. My advice to anyone is you need to choose your boss.
A good boss is everything.
A bad one can destroy your career and your health.
When you're interviewing, make sure you question your perspective, boss. It would be best to find what keeps them ticking and how they like to work. If it aligns with you - great. If not, don't progress any further with them.