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2013-04-25 4:07 PM

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Champion
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Subject: Micro managing

I know that micro managing is annoying, but I am starting to understand why people end up doing that. 

In a fairly small staff of people, we have uncovered two people who were basically hiding work in their offices.  One on a much grander scale and it wasn't a huge surprise, they left a few years ago.  But I was really sorry to discover, in the cubicle of a worker who was laid off several months ago, a stack of undone work.   Without getting into details, this is simple stuff that will still need to be done.  Basic library work.

I wonder what causes a person to just squirrel stuff away.   In this case, we talked regularly and I was asked frankly a million dumb questions a day. So, it wasn't a matter of them thinking they couldn't ask me for help.  Mind boggling.  I feel like I need to look through everyone's office now, because I really did think this person was doing a good job!

Just had to vent.



2013-04-25 4:15 PM
in reply to: #4715290

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Alpharetta, Georgia
Subject: RE: Micro managing
How did no one notice the work wasn't being done?
2013-04-25 5:33 PM
in reply to: #4715301

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Micro managing

If you mean "How didn't we notice the never moving pile of work?":  Because it was an inch thick stack of office envelopes that looked like all of the other "in progress" work that was being done.  It only stood out now after working on clearing out the cubicle while tying up loose ends.  She was a bit of an office supply hoarder, I fully expected it to be empty envelopes!

And if you mean "if it wasn't done, and no one noticed, why does it matter?" it's because of the nature of the work.   The bad part is they are errata (Meaning "there was a misprint on this page in this book, replace it with this new page") and so folks were using the items just assuming they were correct.   An errata stands out, the lack of one doesn't.

2013-04-25 5:34 PM
in reply to: #4715381

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Micro managing
And in the other example, it was very similar to the errata situation and she was hiding the work in a desk drawer which we found after she left!
2013-04-25 6:34 PM
in reply to: #4715290

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Micro managing
That is a bummer that was going on, but micro managing still sucks.
2013-04-25 6:44 PM
in reply to: #4715290

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Alpharetta, Georgia
Subject: RE: Micro managing

I'm not trying to defend her, but if she was given work and the person/manager who gave it to her never follows up or knows if it's completed that just seems like a bit of an odd system.

Maybe put some new procedures in place so it can't happen again?  



2013-04-25 6:53 PM
in reply to: #4715290

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Micro managing
I guess I would view that as micro managing, but maybe I am missing some subtlety here. She was the sole recipient of these errata (come from publisher not me). I guess I have to ask more pointed questions like "how is your every day work going, do you have anything outstanding that you want to discuss?". I don't know... I am open to suggestion.
2013-04-25 7:09 PM
in reply to: #4715290

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Subject: RE: Micro managing

In my world -- being free of micro-management is something you earn.  Hopefully quickly, of course.  But it doesn't just get handed to you,

Maybe I'm a bit retro.

2013-04-25 7:18 PM
in reply to: #4715458

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Subject: RE: Micro managing
lisac957 - 2013-04-25 7:44 PM

I'm not trying to defend her, but if she was given work and the person/manager who gave it to her never follows up or knows if it's completed that just seems like a bit of an odd system.

Maybe put some new procedures in place so it can't happen again?  



I agree with Lisa. Does this approach TPS report cover sheet level work? If it's not noticed or mission critical, is it really necessary?

It seems as this may be work for work's sake and not on a critical path to moving the organization forward.
2013-04-25 9:14 PM
in reply to: #4715486

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Subject: RE: Micro managing
pitt83 - 2013-04-25 7:18 PM
lisac957 - 2013-04-25 7:44 PM

I'm not trying to defend her, but if she was given work and the person/manager who gave it to her never follows up or knows if it's completed that just seems like a bit of an odd system.

Maybe put some new procedures in place so it can't happen again?  

I agree with Lisa. Does this approach TPS report cover sheet level work? If it's not noticed or mission critical, is it really necessary? It seems as this may be work for work's sake and not on a critical path to moving the organization forward.

2013-04-25 9:21 PM
in reply to: #4715290

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Subject: RE: Micro managing

On a serious note, micromanaging as a rule is almost always a bad thing that generally results in even bigger problems.

That doesn't mean you don't manage people, and look for ways to improve your overall process to keep things like this from happening though.  I obviously don't know much about the situation, but a system that exclusively relies on individual employees to do a certain piece of work with no checks and balances to verify it gets done could invite things like this to happen.  It would be great if our employees were ethical and responsible enough to do what they're supposed to but the sad truth is they all are not.

Good luck

 



2013-04-25 10:43 PM
in reply to: #4715595

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Micro managing

First, I assure you that this is mission critical.  If we were in a law firm, versus an academic law library, it could result in malpractice.

I don't work in a company of thousands or hundreds, I work in a small organization that is contracting and folks have to take on complete responsibility.   We don't have managers for managing sake, I have a multitude of various responsibilities - which fortunately now (I guess) includes handling erratas.  

Anyway, yeah, in a perfect world there would be perfect systems.  I was apparently foolish enough to think that an adult with a relatively straight forward job (do all the things) would do all the things.  Apparently human nature does not allow for this, on average.  I thought people who were adults, who had families and decades more work experience than me would be responsible.  How sad.  I will take this as a lesson. 

2013-04-25 11:09 PM
in reply to: #4715290

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Subject: RE: Micro managing

Bikergrrrl: sorry to hear you discoverd this and now have to wonder what else is not done.  I can relate to your situation several times over.  While I agree that freedom from Micromanagement is earned the converse is also true and at greater cost to the organization. 

I would recomend against a "search and destroy" mission to find other problems unless you have an inspection on the horizon.  Your in an academic library, finish the semester first and build a plan with other leaders in the library (make sure they are ready to make and enforce hard decisions).  Let the staff know that there will be an evaluation of work conducted on (date)  and that in light of recent discoveries additional findings will be taken very seriously and result in appropriate HR actions. 

Of course this means you  will have to learn and understand everyones job, work process and collect representative samples of key duties so you can ask.  show me how you updated this document dated___ from xyz publisher.  It will not be easy or fun plus you may have to review and write a lot of new policy and procedure. If a union agreement is involved then it could get more difficult or easier depending on issue and perspective.  Key is to hold people accountable.

good luck.

p.s. enjoy your first warm weekend.

2013-04-26 4:54 AM
in reply to: #4715290

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Subject: RE: Micro managing

Bummer... here's my thought. In my line of work, we rely on a certain amount of freedom. It never matters how we get our work done, just as long as it is done. And trust me, I do not respond well to micro managers. Not at all. But we should probably agree on what a micro manager is...

To me, that is the person that holds your hand to do everything they told you to do because you are too incopmpetent to do it without their direct immediate supervison. Pehaps a little extreme, but you get the point.

That has absolutely nothing to do with being accountable for your flow of work and completing it in a timely, or time sensitive fassion. So somewhere along the line, in your work process... these important tasks are out there, with no quality/control checks in place to ensure it is being accomplished. That isn't micro managing... that's managing. Work litterally falling through the cracks isn't a personell problem, it's a process/managment problem. Or perhaps it would help if you look at it as such, instead of a hand holding exercise.

2013-04-26 7:34 AM
in reply to: #4715290

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Subject: RE: Micro managing

We are currently going trough something similar and it is becoming apparent that work is being missed or avoided due to a lack of knowledge(?). At least it seems to be knowledge, but we are not sure at this point. The employee is still here, so I have been tasked with educating the individual, who is not a direct report of mine. I am not looking forward to it, but it needs to be done.

We also went through something similar a few years back during a large scale consolidation effort. Things were being found 6 months later that were overlooked as the consolidation occured. 

I have seen it when people leave an organization, when people move from one area to another, etc. Especially in smaller companies, where workload outruns documentation speed and people are sometimes doing jobs outside of their capability, due to the need of the company.  Whatever the case may be, just know that it isn't completely unheard of in a smaller organization. You have my sympathy.



Edited by cdban66 2013-04-26 7:49 AM
2013-04-26 7:36 AM
in reply to: #4715290

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Subject: RE: Micro managing
Gotta agree with the (sort of) dissenters.  If this work is truly "mission critical" then I would hope and expect that its accomplishment wasn't the sole responsibility of a single person and their work ethics.... that's just QC... not micro-managing.


2013-04-26 8:36 AM
in reply to: #4715811

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Micro managing

I think this is the root of the problem: "Especially in smaller companies, where workload outruns documentation speed and people are sometimes doing jobs outside of their capability, due to the need of the company."

With my own reflection, and what's been said here, I have learned a lot about how to approach this going forward - thank you guys!

2013-04-26 8:52 AM
in reply to: #4715290

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Deep in the Heart of Texas
Subject: RE: Micro managing
Obviously you don't need two people to handle the errata sheet work if it only requires one person.  However, it seems that you need some sort of checking mechanism.  Maybe errata sheets come to the manager first who makes a extra copy of one errata sheet out of the stack.  The copy can be used to audit the work a week or so later.  So long as the errata sheet person doesn't know which one is copied (but understands there will be periodic auditing), they will have to stay on top of the job.
2013-04-26 9:29 AM
in reply to: #4715458

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Micro managing
lisac957 - 2013-04-25 6:44 PM

I'm not trying to defend her, but if she was given work and the person/manager who gave it to her never follows up or knows if it's completed that just seems like a bit of an odd system.

Maybe put some new procedures in place so it can't happen again?  



That's what I was just thinking... obviously the process is broken if someone can not do work and no one ever notices.

2013-04-26 9:39 AM
in reply to: #4715464

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2013-04-26 10:17 AM
in reply to: #4716061

Alpharetta, Georgia
Subject: RE: Micro managing
wgraves7582 - 2013-04-26 9:39 AM

BikerGrrrl - 2013-04-25 7:53 PM I guess I would view that as micro managing, but maybe I am missing some subtlety here. She was the sole recipient of these errata (come from publisher not me). I guess I have to ask more pointed questions like "how is your every day work going, do you have anything outstanding that you want to discuss?". I don't know... I am open to suggestion.

Yes this type of question would get me job searching in about 2 minutes flat - if I have a job to do no one should be required to follow up to make sure I am doing my job - that is what you are paying me for.

I have had this conversation with a new manager and I basically told him if you question my work you better have cause to question it and be prepared for an arguement because I am an adult and I don't need babysitting.

Sounds like some people don't understand that the paycheck they receive comes with responsibility!

Interesting viewpoint. Maybe it depends on the industry, profession or level you're working at.

I've always been at the "contributor" level, so ALWAYS had a manager who followed up with the work on my plate. That's called managing, no? 

What would your ideal manager do, if he/she is not "managing" their employees?



2013-04-26 10:23 AM
in reply to: #4715290

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Subject: RE: Micro managing

 

I would just caution against organization wide changes to address the issues of two employees who are now gone. I formerly managed a team of 40 or so, every person is different and every person will react different.

Some of my employees I could trust to do anything I asked them, some I didn't have to ask they just found stuff that needed done and did it. Other people required constant babysitting and it could be for any number of reasons. Some just didn't really "get it" or catch on to things quickly, others had bad work ethic and were there to skate by, others thought their way was better when it was not.

My point is, if you start treating other employees differently because you had issues with two they are likely not going to appreciate it. If I had treated the goods different because of issues the bads caused I would have lost the good employees or at least negatively affected their morale. 

2013-04-26 11:00 AM
in reply to: #4716143

Champion
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Subject: RE: Micro managing
lisac957 - 2013-04-26 10:17 AM
wgraves7582 - 2013-04-26 9:39 AM

BikerGrrrl - 2013-04-25 7:53 PM I guess I would view that as micro managing, but maybe I am missing some subtlety here. She was the sole recipient of these errata (come from publisher not me). I guess I have to ask more pointed questions like "how is your every day work going, do you have anything outstanding that you want to discuss?". I don't know... I am open to suggestion.

Yes this type of question would get me job searching in about 2 minutes flat - if I have a job to do no one should be required to follow up to make sure I am doing my job - that is what you are paying me for.

I have had this conversation with a new manager and I basically told him if you question my work you better have cause to question it and be prepared for an arguement because I am an adult and I don't need babysitting.

Sounds like some people don't understand that the paycheck they receive comes with responsibility!

Interesting viewpoint. Maybe it depends on the industry, profession or level you're working at.

I've always been at the "contributor" level, so ALWAYS had a manager who followed up with the work on my plate. That's called managing, no? 

What would your ideal manager do, if he/she is not "managing" their employees?

This is a good question.  I have an employee who has a mix of day-to-day tasks and project work.  I follow-up with the day-to-day just generally with a "how's it going, any issues coming up?" to essentially open the door to discussion, and a generally keeping track of how things look.  I do the real managing with the project work.  I have regularly scheduled discussions to updates on timelines, discuss questions as they come up, and I do pay attention to the work that is produced.   I think that's more than reasonable, and not micro-managey.   It's following up on the daily straight-forward tasks that I have to wonder about (in a professional setting).  I don't know how to do that  - or that I should have to.

2013-04-26 11:06 AM
in reply to: #4715464

Champion
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the alamo city, Texas
Subject: RE: Micro managing

BikerGrrrl - 2013-04-25 7:53 PM I guess I would view that as micro managing, but maybe I am missing some subtlety here. She was the sole recipient of these errata (come from publisher not me). I guess I have to ask more pointed questions like "how is your every day work going, do you have anything outstanding that you want to discuss?". I don't know... I am open to suggestion.

you ask the publisher then - "are your errata being done on time?  is my employee meeting your needs?"  this is something that should be going on frequently and randomly, with all customers of all editors.  maybe establish anonymous customer surveys, create a performance metric around it, create a culture of high customer service orientation - if this doesn't exist you may have other problems that aren't showing yet either.

that is not micromanaging, that is plain and simple customer service.  the publisher is your customer and it's your job to make sure they are pleased with your company's work.



Edited by mehaner 2013-04-26 11:09 AM
2013-04-26 11:07 AM
in reply to: #4716211

Champion
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the alamo city, Texas
Subject: RE: Micro managing
BikerGrrrl - 2013-04-26 12:00 PM
lisac957 - 2013-04-26 10:17 AM
wgraves7582 - 2013-04-26 9:39 AM

BikerGrrrl - 2013-04-25 7:53 PM I guess I would view that as micro managing, but maybe I am missing some subtlety here. She was the sole recipient of these errata (come from publisher not me). I guess I have to ask more pointed questions like "how is your every day work going, do you have anything outstanding that you want to discuss?". I don't know... I am open to suggestion.

Yes this type of question would get me job searching in about 2 minutes flat - if I have a job to do no one should be required to follow up to make sure I am doing my job - that is what you are paying me for.

I have had this conversation with a new manager and I basically told him if you question my work you better have cause to question it and be prepared for an arguement because I am an adult and I don't need babysitting.

Sounds like some people don't understand that the paycheck they receive comes with responsibility!

Interesting viewpoint. Maybe it depends on the industry, profession or level you're working at.

I've always been at the "contributor" level, so ALWAYS had a manager who followed up with the work on my plate. That's called managing, no? 

What would your ideal manager do, if he/she is not "managing" their employees?

This is a good question.  I have an employee who has a mix of day-to-day tasks and project work.  I follow-up with the day-to-day just generally with a "how's it going, any issues coming up?" to essentially open the door to discussion, and a generally keeping track of how things look.  I do the real managing with the project work.  I have regularly scheduled discussions to updates on timelines, discuss questions as they come up, and I do pay attention to the work that is produced.   I think that's more than reasonable, and not micro-managey.   It's following up on the daily straight-forward tasks that I have to wonder about (in a professional setting).  I don't know how to do that  - or that I should have to.

i don't think that will be effective.  if i weren't doing stuff - whether i liked you or not - i would NEVER tell my boss i wasn't doing my work.

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