To try to control all the small parts of (something, such as an activity) in a way that is usually not wanted or causes problems
The above is Merriam-Webster Online’s definition of the word “micromanage.”
I don’t particularly relish being on the shorter end of the micromanagement stick. I see myself a self-starter, and being micromanaged kills my drive, creativity and motivation. It hampers me from reaching my full potential. It upsets me to the point of immobilization, which can be catastrophic for time-sensitive projects.
Come to think of it, how can you properly work when you get messages from your client asking you for updates every hour of the day, or perhaps giving you instructions down to the tiniest detail, such as which brand of graphics tablet to use?
Lucky for me, I’m not one of a kind. Most freelancers I know feel the same way. So, if you’re new to freelancing, know that you might have to contend with a micromanaging client one day, too.
What to do? What to do?
As a freelancer, a client who looks over your proverbial shoulder every chance he gets is going to be a problem. That being the case, the obvious and easy way out is to get upset and throw in the towel. And darn, it will even feel good and liberating to punctuate the relationship, or lack thereof, with a few snide remarks of your own.
But before you give in to the temptation, here are some things you might want to consider:
Yes, there is a “why”
While the last thing you probably want to be is in your micromanaging client’s shoes (you wouldn’t want to be the same person who drives you up the wall, would you?), remember that there’s a reason he’s doing what he’s doing, and it can be any one of the following:
- Micromanagement is the only management style he understands.
- His boss micromanages him, too.
- He’s a control freak.
- He doesn’t trust that you’ll do a good job.
- He believes the only way a project will ever succeed is through his constant intervention.
- He feels some sense of job or knowledge insecurity, which he thinks can be compensated by sweating the small stuff.
Related reading: Dealing with a Micromanaging Boss or Client
Arm yourself with the “what”
Sometimes, the reason is too evident to ignore; sometimes, not. But whether or not you get down to the root of the micromanagement issue, here are some things you can try implementing:
- Explain the process.
If the reason behind the micromanagement is because they haven’t been involved in a similar type of project before, assure them that you know what you’re doing by helping them understand the entire process. Providing references and examples of similar projects you have successfully delivered in the past can also help.
- Establish some ground rules.
Once you’ve explained the process, establish some ground rules, including the frequency of updates and the extent of your client’s involvement in the nitty-gritty of the project.
- Commit to excellence.
While committing to excellence is something that’s required of you as a freelancer for every project you work on, this is especially paramount when dealing with a micromanager. Once it has become evident that you are strongly committed to exceed expectations and that you can be trusted to deliver outstanding work on time, he may learn to relax and bug you less.
- Give them constant updates.
Deadlines are stressful, that’s for sure, considering that variables beyond your control may crop up at the wrong place and time. Of course, by all means, stick to your deadlines, if you can. If you can’t, particularly if it’s too tight to begin with, give your client constant updates, such as which particular part of the project has been done after the first week and so on. This way, your client has a clear perspective on the project’s overall progress.
- Be honest.
You know what they say about honesty. Yes, it’s still the best policy. If your client’s managing style is getting in the way of project delivery and execution, let him know. If it’s hampering your creativity, be honest about it. Then again, no matter how fed up you already feel about his meddlesome ways, be tactful. You don’t want to burn bridges, right?
Related reading:
Conclusion
There are various types of clients who hail from the “highways of hell.” A micromanager is just one of them. Understanding there’s a reason why they’re who they are can go a long way in ensuring you establish a better working relationship with them. It pays dividends to implement the above suggestions before you decide to quit and utter hurtful words you may regret later.
However, if push comes to shove and nothing seems to work in your favor, keep in mind, whatever they do, whatever they say that totally upsets you, it doesn’t make you a lesser freelancer.
Image credit: artur84 | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Thanks for your great article. I have an issue right now where I have given constant updates and it has backfired. More information seems to elicit more questions. One email elicits 5 more emails with questions. No answer ever seems to suffice. The first letter I sent with 5 pages of explanation caused them to call me and discuss for an hour all the details in the letter. And no, they don’t trust me – they ask for recommendations/advice yet they don’t follow it. Any suggestions?
Hi Colleen,
Thank you for visiting and sharing your story.
I can feel your frustration. The only thing I can say is that I think it’s time to take control of the situation. To do that, you have to first isolate the root cause of the problem. Why don’t they trust you? Why do they ask more questions after every update? Are the project terms unclear to them? Have you clearly communicated the scope of what you can do and what they can expect in return? Do they understand your expectations of them?
In the world of online marketing, clients are normally only after one thing: results. And we, writers – online service providers, in general – are simply a means to an end. We may write great stuff, have a considerable social media following, but at the end of the day, if they don’t get the results they expect, we’re nothing but an added expense to their income statement.
There’s a reason why you think they don’t trust you, and that reason doesn’t necessarily have to be you. When you’re finally able to pinpoint that reason, you can start working to turn things around.
Good luck, Colleen!
Cheers,
Maricel
Maricel Rivera recently posted … 5 Free Online Tools for Small Businesses
I’m thinking of the same concern Colleen has. The micromanager I’m dealing with has proven that he is a control freak and will even lie if it helps his ‘case’. Any ideas?
I have the same issue Colleen has: One update prompts more questions.
Thing is, the whole reason I started freelancing is to manage myself, so I don’t play that game. If there are snags, say a key source bails, I let the client know a week or two before the deadline. If the client gets into a twitch and starts asking questions, my stock reply is “I will let you know when I have replaced the source who bailed.”
Then I ignore duplicate emails of the same nature from that client. When I have resolved the situation, I say, “As promised, I’m letting you know that…”
If that’s not good enough for them, they can hire another writer to drive up a wall next time. I have enough work on my plate and I have enough other clients that I cannot and will not spend even 15 minutes of my time dealing with that nonsense. It’s not fair to my other clients to take time away from their work or drain my energy so that I’m not giving them my best just because someone else can’t take a deep breath and step back.
It’s not worth it to me, either. Ever notice how the more hassle a client is, the lower that client pays? Right. I’ll slog it out, but if the micromanager is sufficiently annoying, I’ll just turn down future work. I usually convert mediocre flat fees into nice hourly rates if left to my own devices and efficiency. I’m not going to cheat myself, either.
If your source of clientel is wide enough, I generally suggest aborting, and hopefully they pay twice the going rate or in a perfect world their leaky faucet so to speak never gets fixed and floods their house