Author Topic: Office place micromanagement  (Read 6059 times)

AnnaD

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Office place micromanagement
« on: September 04, 2012, 04:53:34 PM »
So it was announced at the last staff meeting that we would be micromanaged.  I'm sorry, let me correct myself, it was announced we would be given new "time management" and "efficiency tools" that will "help us help you" ;D
Needless to say I was fit to be tied! 

Before I get too far I wanted to get some consensus about what others perceive as micromanagement.  What does micromanagement look like to you in a semi-professional or professional work place?

Another Reader

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2012, 05:04:30 PM »
It looks like it's time to look for a new job.

HeidiO

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2012, 06:35:32 PM »
I guess it depends on your workplace's culture.  Where I work they are in love with paying huge amounts of money to consultants who tell them how to save money, increase productivity, retain employees, etc.  We are in a CONSTANT state of change or should I say "continuous quality improvement." Typically these initiatives last about a year, then they become too expensive or a lawsuit happens or the next new thing comes around.  I just ignore them.  Oh - I do what I'm told, but I don't worry too much b/c it will all be different next year.
Heidi

keith

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2012, 08:26:55 PM »
(Software Engineer / IT Guy here)

I have the opposite situation at my workplace... tons of freedom, literally zero micro-management.

About once a month I talk to my boss to recap what I have been working on, discuss plans for future projects and high-level direction. Management is easily available if something urgent comes up... but how I utilize my time is completely up to me. My employer trusts the fact that I will use my time wisely. As long as I do that, the trust can continue and everybody's happy.

riskystartup

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2012, 08:49:35 PM »
As a former micro-manager, I feel bad for the bosses, they have issues :)

Micro-management stems from insecurity and mistrust. Since I realized how bad my constant "supervision" was, I am enjoying my work more, having tons more of personal time with my family etc. Now, my approach is - if the work is done, I do not care if my employees did it while sipping beer at the beach, or by someone they subcontracted to do their work in Indonesia... This summer I implemented paid time off every Friday, and I had to push people to go home early...

However, sometimes employees are also stubborn to accept the change. Example - I recently had electronic work hour tracking installed (to replace outdated manual excel spreadsheets that I created 10 years ago). Wow - people almost started the riot. In this case, this system allows our accounting to process payroll on time (as opposed delaying everyone's checks because one person forgot to submit Excel sheet), allows switchboard to know who is in the office to take the phone, and allows managers to budget for hours and plan schedules.

I say that you should at least give the management a week or two to prove that this will work. If it turns out to be dumb, then tell them and leave if you can, but what do you have to lose by giving it your best try?

tooqk4u22

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2012, 09:32:48 AM »

"Eight, Bob. So that means that when I make a mistake, I have eight different people coming by to tell me about it. That's my only real motivation is not to be hassled, that and the fear of losing my job. But you know, Bob, that will only make someone work just hard enough not to get fired."

mindaugas

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #6 on: September 07, 2012, 10:23:16 AM »
Not sure what management or culture is like there, but there may be an issue. Sometimes that can be management handing down tasks inefficiently, sometimes it's employees legitimately wasting time. I don't think some efficiency/time management apps are a a big deal. they can be offensive, but if you're managing your time well already it's just an opportunity to prove you're not a slacker and you are a professional. Sometimes you have to do that. MTFU.

Here's a better scenario of extreme micro-management. I worked for a very small company running IT so I was management and then also answered to the owner who was a very bad micro-manager. His issue though was office time, he just wasn't in. So when he did stroll in at noon on a Friday he freaked out and we were stuck meeting all day discussing what I had been working on. On top of that overloaded with a constant stream of tasks and emails so my time was spent jumping from one to the other. In my case, time management and tracking software would have helped, at least then I wouldn't have had to keep an evernote of everything I did. It took me 8 years (the job was a ton of fun and I learned a LOT) but I finally left. Now I work in the public sector and I am micromanaging up trying to get more stuff to do :) 8 hours flies by when you're working, not so much lurking MMM forums.

Jaherman99

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2012, 01:17:15 PM »
Putting processes in place to track labor and help project management gauge progress isn't micromanagement.  It's also not a sign of lack of trust. It is usually a necessary pain in the ass.

 They usually feel the need to put those things in place when projects are large enough that its difficult to keep on track.  Also, it makes it easier for someone in accounting to accurately capitalize the labor and save on taxes.

AnnaD

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2012, 12:44:18 PM »
Putting processes in place to track labor and help project management gauge progress isn't micromanagement.  It's also not a sign of lack of trust. It is usually a necessary pain in the ass.

 They usually feel the need to put those things in place when projects are large enough that its difficult to keep on track.  Also, it makes it easier for someone in accounting to accurately capitalize the labor and save on taxes.


I do recognize that some processes need to be in place to ensure that goals are achieved and met efficiently.  Unfortunately, giving me a sheet of paper with each half-hour broken down to reflect what I am working on isn't an efficient process. 
Asking the staff to update a electronic, central calendar of meetings is totally reasonable and does help with efficiency.  Having us fill out an additional sheet of paper each week to reflect what we are working on is redundant of both, the daily breakdown and the electronic calendar.

Conducting trainings by having the staff sit down and read aloud from a manual is insulting and time consuming.  My industry already requires an enormous amount of training and documentation most of which is done electronically without issue. 

I am frustrated with this.  I have voiced my frustration in the most constructive way I know to my managers.  I am told these are not only for use at the office, but my managers are being tasked with doing the same time-wasting forms.  We have a new regional VP who calls everyday for updates and wants to know what everyone is working on hence the forms.  I fear this is not simply a way for her to acclimate to the company as she talked at length during a recent visit to our office about how she likes to "stay on top of things".  I may be misinterpreting the terminology, but this is quickly making my job less desirable and the grass is beginning to look greener in other pastures.

gooki

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2012, 05:00:43 PM »
I feel your pain. I have time sheets I have to break down into 15 minute lots. Thankfully it's electronic, and although I supposed to do it daily, it generally gets done on the last day of the month.

tooqk4u22

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #10 on: September 11, 2012, 08:32:19 AM »
I apologize but I can't help it - another Office Space quote

Dom Portwood: Hi, Peter. What's happening? We need to talk about your TPS reports.
Peter Gibbons: Yeah. The coversheet. I know, I know. Uh, Bill talked to me about it.
Dom Portwood: Yeah. Did you get that memo?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah. I got the memo. And I understand the policy. And the problem is just that I forgot the one time. And I've already taken care of it so it's not even really a problem anymore.
Dom Portwood: Ah! Yeah. It's just we're putting new coversheets on all the TPS reports before they go out now. So if you could go ahead and try to remember to do that from now on, that'd be great. All right!

kdms

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2012, 08:02:02 AM »
Having been in both micro-managed and non-managed-at-all environments, I've come to apply the following definition (which is not Webster's, Miriam's, or Oxford's):

Micro-managed: when you're not only given a job to do, but are given a job to do, told exactly how to do each step of the job, and acquire a peeping tom on your shoulder to ensure you do it exactly the way the real owner of the job wants it done.

Usually comes from someone who's moved into a more senior position and doesn't know how to let go of his/her old one, especially if they're now responsible to supervise tasks they used to do themselves in a certain way, and in their opinion, a superior, faster, and more efficient way than you do. 

Being asked to document how I spend my time doesn't really get my gander up, as long as no one's standing over my shoulder watching me do it.  But that's just me.... :)  I've seen it happen more often in industries where billing can occur by the time slot, such as lawyers and architects.  My bf is an architect and she has to do her timesheets in 15min increments.  It's a pain in the arse, but it's also saved her a lot of grief when a client argues about the final bill, and it's helped her (and her company) more accurately give estimates for jobs when they can accurately break down the time required for each phase of the job.

However....it does sound like your VP is a micro-manager as per my definition.  Very annoying....

kimmysue

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2012, 10:50:20 PM »
I have to agree with what mindaugas said.

Not sure what management or culture is like there, but there may be an issue. Sometimes that can be management handing down tasks inefficiently, sometimes it's employees legitimately wasting time. I don't think some efficiency/time management apps are a a big deal. they can be offensive, but if you're managing your time well already it's just an opportunity to prove you're not a slacker and you are a professional. Sometimes you have to do that. MTFU.

There must be some good reason why the management had to implement 'micro management' in the way it think is best done. They've probably noticed some people wasting time and some things not getting done. But, if you are one of those who work well and with all honesty then this will totally not affect you in any way. It will even work well for you as you probably will get more recognition.

In our case, micro management has always been a necessity since our processes rely mostly on outsourcing. We have different people working for us in 9 different countries. It wouldn't be possible to monitor all of them without the use of tracking software. As long as they know up to what extent they are tracked and how it should benefit them, it won't really be a problem. It hasn't been for us. It has even increased our productivity.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2012, 02:10:00 PM by Sparafusile »

Osprey

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Re: Office place micromanagement
« Reply #13 on: September 27, 2012, 03:24:46 PM »
Having been in both micro-managed and non-managed-at-all environments, I've come to apply the following definition (which is not Webster's, Miriam's, or Oxford's):

Micro-managed: when you're not only given a job to do, but are given a job to do, told exactly how to do each step of the job, and acquire a peeping tom on your shoulder to ensure you do it exactly the way the real owner of the job wants it done.


Great definition! The peeping over your shoulder part is probably what gets most people's hackles up. When I hear the word "micromanagement" I think of how stressed and paranoid I felt when I had a senior person always phoning, smsing or poking his head around the corner. Filling in log sheets and working on a schedule didn't bother me as much as having someone constantly checking on me.