Four ways to deal with a control-freak boss

It can feel overwhelming if your boss is watching you closely, harping about every small misstep. The good news is that you can, little by little, direct a process that will enable him to start trusting you more and monitoring you less. Here’s how.

1 Manage his insecurity Despite what you may think, the root of your boss's micromanaging might be explained by factors that have little to do with you, such as a poor understanding of his role as manager, micromanaging bosses of his own, or personal insecurity.

Form an educated guess about where your boss’s sensitivities lie. If you believe, for example, that he’s intimidated by his boss, think of ways you can alleviate that pressure, such as running reports to better prepare him for meetings with his manager.

2 Don't fight it Leadership consultant Ron Ashkenas suggests that instead of viewing your boss's behaviour as a blow to your ego, think about how you might benefit from it. Your boss may have your best interests in mind. Perhaps he wants to ensure you have a sound understanding of the company's protocol, or the most effective ways to work the system to get things done.

Regardless of the cause, says Ashkenas, accept that your boss may have something important to teach you. Just try to learn as much as you can, as quickly as you can – in case he doesn’t eventually let up and you decide you can’t take it anymore.

3 Scrutinise yourself If your boss doesn’t appear to have faith in your ability to do your job, consider whether you’ve given him a reason to feel this way. Take a hard look at yourself – and look around. If your boss isn’t micromanaging other colleagues, his behaviour could be a clue that you’re underperforming.

4 Look ahead Focusing on your future may help you and your boss interact more productively in the present. So initiate a discussion about long-term goals. Set up a one-on-one meeting. Explain that you want to start communicating more regularly – and explicitly – about your growth and about how else you could support the department. Give him some examples of the types of projects you’d like to work on and the future role you envision for yourself. And then ask if he’ll work with you to create a plan for acquiring the skills you’ll need to realise your vision. – Copyright Harvard Business Review 2015