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.