Double Combo Control Freaks

Dear God, please forgive me for I have bitched about my bosses.


Today, for almost the entire day, my colleagues and I bitched and bitched and bitched about our two immediate lady bosses. Yup, we could not take it any more. It was the only thing we could do to get it off our chest.

Well, I don't know why, but lady bosses really have authority issues. They just have to show that they are in a powerful position and that you are supposed to acknowledge this fact everyday. No matter how small a decision is to be made, you have to 'check' with them first. Before you send out an e-mail, you must show them first. (Sometimes I wonder if they get offended if I go to the toilet without asking them for permission first: Boss, can I go to the toilet now? I really have to shee shee...). Everything they must know and you have to get their approval because they are the office manager or project manager. Yes, every now and then, they remind you who they are, just to make sure that you know your rightful place, which is below them. Under normal circumstances, when you do things without having to be told to do it, most bosses would praise you that you have shown initiative and/or able to work independently and/or able to handle difficult situations on your own. It didn't matter how you do it (of course within reasonable limits), as long as the work gets done or the problem gets solved. But when it comes to these two bosses, it matters very much to them that no matter how you do it, no matter how insignificant the impact will be, you must absolutely inform them and check with them. Otherwise, they will accuse you that you didn't ask their permission. Why didn't you check with them first?

I really don't understand what goes on in their head. Did they really feel so insecure and threatened that they have to control everything you do? As long as you check with them or get their approval on everything that you do, then they'll be happy. As long as you listen to what they tell you to do, then they won't find issues with you. If you didn't do it their way, then you've done it the wrong way. But during performance appraisal, they will turn back and accuse you of being unable to make decisions. They will judge you that you lack initiative, that you lack ability to handle situations on your own. Either way, you lose, because they are the bosses and what they say or do are always right.

I have worked with two other female bosses in the past, and they're all also the same. But for now, in my current office, it's double combo micromanagers. In a small office of only 6 people, with the top two people being female control freaks (that's already 33% of the office population), how do you deal with this? How do you spend 40 hours (or more) a week having to face all this nonsensical micromanagement? Phuh!