Q: Lots of people complain about being micromanaged but I have the opposite problem — too little direction. I like clarity and structure, especially when I'm being asked to take on something new. How can I get my boss to give more direction? She's really busy and doesn't seem to have time for me.
Brendon, 33, customer service team lead
A: Set priorities for where you want her engagement and develop approaches to become more self-reliant.
Having been on both sides of the table, I can tell you there's nothing a boss likes more than team members who challenge themselves to find solutions to their own problems. Even if you want to have them validated or refined, taking that first step yourself has a lot of advantages.
First, it stretches your brain. If you're too passive, you won't grow professionally, which could eventually be fatal to your career. Second, it builds your reputation as a valuable employee, which can then open up new opportunities. When you put these together, you end up with a recipe for increased self-confidence.
With these wins available to you, what holds you back from trying this? It may feel risky to venture an opinion that feels uninformed or an idea that feels half-baked. If you've been burned, this may be especially hard. My observation, though, is that people typically have a much higher perception of risk than is realistic.
So try this. Take a situation where you'd really like to have your boss' input. Then ask yourself, "What Would My Boss Do?" Think of all the advice that she may provide and all the ideas she may offer. Make a list, considering as many options as you can. Then seek her perspective.
If you're really stuck, brainstorm with your peers. You probably have some similar challenges, and you can be a good resource to one another. Your company may have some self-coaching groups or a mentoring program you can tap into, too.
When you've done these things — and made sure she knows it — it becomes much more compelling to go to her and ask for help on the really hard things. These might include a dramatic expansion of responsibilities or an unforeseen problem you've never encountered before. Navigating corporate politics is another area where she'd be uniquely qualified to help.
Recognize that there may be some areas where you can create your own structure to satisfy your need for clarity and structure. Even if she doesn't ask for it, use status reports and plans to help keep all the details under control. And don't take it personally. She may not have great management skills or may have more confidence in you than you do!
Finally, use this as an opportunity to consider your own leadership style. As a front-line leader, how are you supporting your team? Are you repeating the mistakes of your boss? Finding the sweet spot between the extremes will be the best outcome of this challenge.
What challenges do you face at work? Send your questions to Liz Reyer, a credentialed coach and president of Reyer Coaching & Consulting in Eagan. She can be reached at liz@deliverchange.com.
