Employee uses their manager's own incompetence to end their career: 'My show of assertion crumbled the empire of fear'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
May 13, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

Micromanagers usually come in two shapes; the first is a recently promoted technical worker with a deep understanding of the work but with poor interpersonal skills and a deep drive for perfectionism who can't bear to let go of the fact they're no longer doing the work themselves anymore, they cling to their methods depriving their workers of agency and limiting their ability to produce. The second is an externally hired career manager who has no understanding of the actual work and compensates for that fact by changing random office policies so that they have a chance to trip people up and feel like they have some authority. This second group of managers think that creating senseless work and red tape is the same thing as actual productivity, and they can't understand why their worker's actual production is slipping. 

Both of these managers can be difficult to work with, but the latter of the two is undoubtably more infuriating, having no real merit or purpose behind their determination to make your life miserable. But, at least in some situations, dealing with the problem is as simple as letting their own incompetence catch up to them (sometimes with a little bit of help.)

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  • 01
    "My show of assertion crumbled the empire of fear." EAR
    via Annie Spratt
  • 02
    Do exactly and only as told. Ok. Take holiday asap. Ok. Check emails on holiday... OK ... but it'll cost you in the long run LOC A story of MC & upwards management from a decade ago. Usual caveats - names changed, writing on mobile and English as 2nd language. TLDR at bottom.
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 03
    To set the scene; recently direct employed at UK HQ for a sizeable national B2B company that I'd contracted for: "Me" is me, your OP. "Bob" is my new Micro Managing Boss. "Jim" is my Nice Hiring Manager - they guy who talked me into joining rather than continuing on contracts only mentioned as his warning to cover my rear with Bob made this possible.
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 04
    So to the story before you lose interest... Bob started our relationship with a request for 1on1 meeting to understand my role as it was one they'd never experienced except as an end stakeholder... seems promising so I prepare a concise but thorough briefing presentation to outline core deliverables and resource allocations as they stood. Dear
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 05
    reader; I lie not - 2nd slide showing the period spread of legal and corporate compliance activities was up for 3 seconds when I was instructed to cease presenting and dressed down as follows (paraphrased for expediency and clarity as Bob. had, as I later learned, a tendency to ramble on tangential lines)...
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 06
    - Bob Do you presume to instruct me, a board director, your superior in all aspects and your direct manager on how to run my subordinates? Me No, I presumed that you - called this meeting to familiarise the key deliverables and legal requirements of a business area that was hitherto the exclusive remit of Jim. If this was a misinterpretation on my part, I apologise and...
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 07
    Bob cutting me off - That's quite enough. You are here to be told what, how and when to do your job. ~ I'm having a mental replay of overheard break room conversations about Bob's need to control everything ~ Bob continuing as I settle into the at-ease pose adopted by frequently disciplined grammar school boys and military recruits - I am in charge, I give the instructions and you treat
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 08
    anything that could be construed as a request as a direct order. The only time I want to hear from you is for clarifications, authorisations, or to confirm that you have received, understood and actioned my orders. ~ - my blood was rushing in my ears, the nails on both hands were close to splitting my palms but I knew anything I said would
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 09
    end badly for my salary and I'd have to "play nice"~ Me almost gritting my teeth - Understood. May I clarify one thing please? Bob with a look of utter contempt - What exactly was unclear from what I just said!? Me reverting to a customer service developed s--t eating tone - Nothing was unclear; only, you omitted to reveal how and when I am to receive orders.
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 10
    Bob turning crimson - Email, when it hits your inbox. My PA will have minutes of this meeting ready before you've made it back to your desk. Now out, I am too senior to waste more time on this.
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 11
    ...about 6 months later after fastidious compliance with directives issued to me (mostly via Bob's nice but very timid PA) and careful CoverMyA-- archiving of all comms and backups to keep us legal (and I add; all whilst discreetly exploring alternative career options both within and outside the company) I am in receipt of a meeting "invitation" to attend Bob's office. At last the order came forth with opportunity for MC that started the avalanche...
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 12
    Bob not looking up from their monitor OP I need you to book - 2 weeks holiday to be taken ASAP. This off the record request is your #1 priority. ~klaxons going off in my head... I'm about to be stood up to take the fall for the state our compliance submissions had fallen into... lucky I did everything required legally required of me... I'm not responsible under policy or law for the compliance, only what I am told to do.~
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 13
    Me deciding this is my chance to goad Bob's ego - 2 weeks asap. Gladly, I can hand over everything by end of this week and I did get ahead of the monthlies in case you forgot to request them so could start with next week and the week after. Bob looking oddly relieved and making eye contact - PA will process and authorise. Those monthlies better be perfect. You are dismissed.
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 14
    ...Friday comes and the anticipated flurry of last minute "requests" and instructions come through. Amongst the laundry- list was the utter gem I had hoped for. A direct email (not PA acting as) with instruction to keep company phone with me at all times and to keep regular TWICE DAILY contact throughout the 2 weeks.
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 15
    ~no one asked what I was doing with my impromptu 2 weeks away from the office... I was fortunate to have the chance to fly 1/2 way around the world to stay with my brother- 20mins booking flights no luggage or hotel costs to worry over. Remember that order to be online? Early 20-teens data costs were insane, add roaming... you
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 16
    get where this goes: I dutifully followed orders and ate roaming data like a social media obsessed teenager. I logged hours and dutifully submitted them to payroll. I drank like a fish and had the best time with my brother. ...End of the month, I'm back and being a good peon with my head down & keyboard clicking when the calendar entry pings in. Seems I am to be favoured with another face to face. I have an idea of what is coming but ohhh boy!
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 17
    Bob appearing to be in the middle of a meltdown - WHAT THE HAVE YOU DONE!? (going lower case to save your eyes but this was at firealarm in your ear volume) You have caused incalculable damage to my reputation in this company... the other board and Jim were laughing at me saying I can't control you. You're out, you're over, you're....
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 18
    Me interrupting in parade ground voice, standing to my full 6'4 - I'm covered, your hubris and ineptitude are laughable. If I'm out, it'll be by my choosing and with a clean sheet. Jim knows full well that I wouldn't drop the ball on compliance regardless of you meddling in things you're not even aware of. Everything you forgot is covered except your own backside. You're not even
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 19
    peerworthy, let alone superior to me even though you may be higher ranking (yes I got that from a film I can't remember but this part is crystal clear). I bid you good day. ~ I turned 180 and walked out of the office into stunned silence across the open plan 100seat floor and back down to my desk.
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 20
    .... the fallout- I enjoyed the inevitable HR session chaired by Jim. I promised not to use any manner that might be deemed threatening for 6 months. I was also returned to reporting to Jim who reinstated my OT plus TIL for the time I worked on holiday and let me get back to keeping things compliant. Bob did indeed have a full meltdown soon after. My show of assertion crumbled the empire of fear, they left to enjoy early retirement and faded into memory.
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 21
    TLDR: New boss is a micro manager. I MC to let them fall on their own lack of knowledge and end up looking bad to their peers before assertively destroying their in office authority leading to end of career for them.
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 22
    CobrasFumanches 11 hr. ago Down Periscope. Captain Dodge getting reamed out "I remind you, you are speaking to a superior officer!" He replies, "No, merely a higher ranking one."
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 23
    Burnandcount OP 10 hr. ago Thank you... been bugging me since I started tapping on this old memory
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 24
    Acidic Watercolor 10 hr. ago Absolutely love it! Those roaming charges were/ are outrageous. Incidentally, was the movie Down Periscope? "You are addressing a superior officer!" "No, merely a higher ranking one."
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 25
    Smeghead333 · 11 hr. ago I have no idea what happened here
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 26
    WokeBriton 10 hr. ago • Boss was a micromanaging who ordered OP to take holiday, but be in contact twice every day while on holiday; presumably using work phone. Phone bill comes in, OP has CYA documentation, micromanaging loses lots of face at management level due to order to be in touch twice daily. OP gets to take time in lieu for the hours worked while on holiday, and now works under much better boss.
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 27
    K1yco 8 hr. ago I am curious, other than micromanaging, what purpose would calling twice a day serve? I might be missing something. Burnandcount OP 8 hr. ago Literally no purpose. Nothing I could do except reply to a few emails and voicemails of which maybe 1 over the 2 weeks would've given the team pause for thought in my absence. Pretty sure it was just a flex or maybe Bob's need to feel in control
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 28
    Hammy_Mach_5.2 hr. ago Where do people talk like this other than in imaginations?
    via u/Burnandcount
  • 29
    JASSEU 5 hr. ago • I had just as much fun reading the comments as reading the story. Some good explications in the comments if the story was a hard understand.
    via u/Burnandcount

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workplace discussion boss workplace-stories toxic-manager jobs job malicious compliance work managers workplace Horrible Bosses workplace malicious compliance employment in the workplace
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