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Ask Flex / The micromanaging boss

Ask Flex

Why does your boss keep checking on you?

It's usually worry. Not your work.

What your boss knows

"Nothing since Monday."

"Done: the report. Doing: the invoices. Need: nothing."

What your boss does

"Stops by your desk. Twice. Then emails."

"Reads it. Replies 'thanks.' Stays put."

An example. Your boss, your call.

Flex's short answer

Most of the time they can't see where things stand, so they come looking, and it's more about their worry than your work. Updates they don't have to ask for usually calm it down.

✱ The video

Rather watch? It's 64 seconds.

✱ Flex's tips

Beat them to the update.

1

Beat them to it

Send the update before they ask.

2

Keep it short

Done, doing, and anything you need.

3

Pick a rhythm

Every morning or every Friday. Same time, every time.

4

Ask what they want

"How often would you like updates?" is a fair question.

Try this in your own Claude or ChatGPT

Here are my rough notes on what I worked on today: [paste them, with names and private details taken out]. Turn them into a short, friendly update for my boss with what's done, what I'm working on, and anything I need from them.

Before you paste work stuff into any AI, check what your company allows.

Sending those updates every day is ongoing work. The free Lab shows you how to hand that work to Claude.

Free tool

Micromanager Bingo

Tap what your boss did today. Four in a row wins a laugh, and one move to try.

Play a round
Flex the robot peeking out from behind a big potted plant with his tablet, while a boss's shadow holding a coffee mug looms over the cubicle wall
Inside the Lab

Learn this in the Lab, free

A free group where you learn to use Claude for the repeat parts of your job: email, reports, forms. Start with a 15-minute chat that maps what Claude can do in your job.

  • Free
  • No coding
  • Works in Claude
Start free on Skool
✱ What people ask
Why is my boss constantly micromanaging?

Often it's pressure from above, or a past surprise they don't want again. Flex has a page on it.

What do I do when my boss keeps micromanaging me?

Send short updates on a set schedule, so there's nothing to come looking for. Flex has a page on it.

How do I outsmart a micromanager?

Beat them to the update. Flex has a page on it.

✱ More from this pile: The micromanaging boss
How do you deal with a micro­manager boss?Is your boss a micro­manager?Why do bosses micro­manage?How do you handle a micro­managing boss without getting fired?What do you say to a micro­managing boss?How do you respond to a micro­manager email?How do you deal with a micro­managing coworker?How do you deal with a micro­manager who also underpays you?Micro­managing boss who doesn't let you do anything?Managers: how do you stop micro­managing? Micromanager Bingo
From Nikki's blogFlex tells you how. Nikki tells you what it felt like. Read it on Clawd and Me. Read it →

Want to hand this to Claude?

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