Are You Being Micromanaged, or You Don’t Want to Be Managed?

What kind of employee are you?

Before you blurt out anything, I challenge you to sit on this question for a few minutes. Carefully think about what kind of employee you are and then ask yourself if it’s true. The politically correct answers are not acceptable for this piece. People don’t call me a realist for nothing. Being a great employee is about something other than the hard work you put in while on the clock. A faithful employee can be coachable and willing to take accountability whether you did something unknowingly or not.

I have tons of time to sit and ponder on the next chapter of my career journey. I have an interview next week, and I would appreciate it if you all send positive vibes my way. Hopefully, the third time is a charm. While filling out applications and following up with recruiters, I’ve asked myself a few times what type of employee I am and what employee I can be with some adjustments.

I didn’t appreciate being told how to do things or why to do them a certain way. As an introvert who generally keeps to myself, I get slightly startled or emotional when someone questions my methods. Why? Well, being a black woman in the workspace has caused some PTSD, the constant violations of my space, microaggressions, backhanded compliments, racial statements made by colleagues who are over fifty, going to a coworker and asking different questions only to be told I’m not working took its toll on me which is why I love remote work. For someone who suffers from mental health, this is the best option to create balance and lower anxiety.

It took me a long time to realize that my body would go into fight or flight, and I suffered from long bouts of anxiety for eight hours a day. Knowing this, it all still depends on whether I can be managed by a supervisor or lead. I never want to put myself in a position to lose my job, especially after reasons I have control over, like productivity, etc.

I can confidently pinpoint the cause to my effect, but back then, I didn’t want to be talked to, coached, questioned, or introduced to do certain things in other ways. I’m a mess. I got into the habit of labeling it “micromanaging” when it was called coaching. I wanted to do what I needed: clock out and collect my check. My work ethic proved itself. I never had office drama; ninety percent of the time, I met production, and I became the one helping other coworkers on projects because I was done with my work.

According to Wikipedia, “Micromanagement is a counter-productive management style characterized by such behaviors as an excessive focus on observing and controlling subordinates and obsession with details.”

I know that micromanaging exists. I’ve heard stories and had it done to me on several occasions. There’s a big difference in being asked “what you’re doing?” every thirty minutes. Nobody should be furious about answering a simple question. We must realize that managers have to report to someone.

If you enthusiastically state, “I’m a team player,” but turn around and decide not to be a part of a team, it will not only hurt you as an employee, but it will impact camaraderie.

If you feel you need to kiss ass to “get to the top,” that’s a personal decision, but be sure to keep that up throughout the workday. It’s essential to self-assess every few months to improve. In this job market, it’s imperative to avoid being replaceable. Being laid off differs from being terminated, so please know the difference.

You don’t like office drama but are the office drama because you are always combative. Performance reviews begin when you sign the dotted line to become another name on the payroll. If you aim to move up within the company or migrate to another department, you won’t get recommended because you don’t like direction or coaching. It’s impossible to sell yourself during evaluations if the manager is only willing to discuss your lack of taking advice, having an attitude, and being combative.

The truth is nobody cares if you can do the work. Your personality and confidence in your abilities win people over.

So again, Are You Being Micromanaged or You Don’t Want to Be Managed?