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The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/baconflavourednipple on 2024-04-09 17:21:52.
A little over a year ago, I found myself stepping into the role of Senior Project Manager for a long-standing client I had been managing for quite some time. The transition into this new position seemed promising until I began to realize the management style of my new boss, someone with whom I had never interacted during my previous role. It quickly became apparent that he had a penchant for micromanagement.
One instance that stands out vividly is when he questioned me via Slack (we work from home full-time), about why he hadn't been invited to an internal team call. I explained my reasoning, assuring him that I had everything under control and his input wasn't necessary for that particular discussion.
However, his micromanagement tendencies didn't end there. He began requesting updates on my lunch breaks, expecting notifications when I stepped away and returned, despite my Slack status indicating my availability. Furthermore, he insisted on being informed of my daily log-in and log-out times, regardless of his own online status. He even wanted me to outline my daily tasks within my Outlook calendar, hour by hour!
The situation escalated when he expressed discontent over not being included in client communication emails, despite receiving comprehensive updates during our weekly catch-up meetings. Despite my efforts to keep him informed through detailed reports and follow-up emails, he insisted that he be included in every single correspondence, citing transparency as his primary concern. I started to feel that I wasn't trusted and started to doubt my ability within my role. I battled with myself and wondered what I was doing so wrong.
EVERY SINGLE EMAIL YOU SAY?
I began including him in every email, whether it was directly relevant to our projects or not. From routine communications with colleagues to mundane requests for IT support or office supplies, his inbox soon overflowed with 20 to 30 pointless emails daily.
Remarkably, not a single complaint about transparency surfaced thereafter, only complaints about too many emails. It seems inundating him with every conceivable email served as the perfect solution to his insatiable desire for oversight.