by Sun Meilan

Created on: November 04, 2009   Last Updated: April 27, 2011

The relationship with your boss is very important to the enjoyment, or otherwise, of your job. Some bosses have a laissez-faire approach and let you get on with things - which is fine, so long as you are happy to work without much management. Others are way too controlling, will attempt to micro-manage your every move and, if it goes too far, can really destroy your self-confidence. Here are some ways to deal with an overly controlling boss without putting your job at risk.

Pre-empt their questions

If you know that your boss will be looking over your work on a regular basis, make sure that you have all the facts to hand so that you can reassure him or her that you know what you are doing. You could offer to provide a weekly report that lays out exactly what you have achieved and what you yet need to do. This may not be a way of working that you feel comfortable with, but if it helps keep your boss off your back, it will be worth it for the peace of mind.

Be honest in your appraisal

Honesty is always the best policy in working relationships. You should have regular appraisals and your boss ought to give you the opportunity to talk about any matters that are bothering you. Explain, politely, that his or her micro-management makes you feel uncomfortable, as if they don't trust you. Ask if this is the case. Your boss may have real reasons for not trusting you to do the work on your own. Or maybe he or she has trust issues - if they can admit this, then at least you know that the problem is theirs and not yours. By ignoring the situation, you run the risk of resentment building up on both sides.

Prove yourself more than competent

It goes without saying that you should prove yourself at work in order to be respected and gain the freedom to work on your own. Make an effort to be noticed by all your colleagues, senior and junior. Respect rubs off on other people - if your boss can see that you are deeply appreciated by everyone else, the chances are, he/she will start to relax and be reassured that you are more than capable of doing the job in hand.

Try to get to know your boss socially

There will probably be various social events linked to work that you can attend. Mixing with a boss that you dislike can be an unpleasant prospect, but it is worth making an effort to get to know them. Some people are naturally suspicious of those that they don't know well and it may be that, with time, your boss will soften towards you, especially if you see them outside work. Ask

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