How to Coach Yourself and Others Essential Knowledge For Coaching | Page 518

A reversal can be an interesting alternative, effectively, micromanaging
them. Book their time to agree what you will be doing. Agree in detail
what you will be doing. Let them make every decision. Then do exactly
what they said and report back that you have completed each step. Go
back often to check for new each decision. In the end they may tire of
your constant attention and tell you to back off. You can also pre-empt
and prompt this by occasionally asking if your approach to managing
the detail through them is ok and whether they'd prefer you to decide
more things yourself.
Another approach is to use their control and identity needs as levers.
Use these as punishment and reward, carefully removing control and
isolating them, or giving feedback that shows they are in control and are
wonderful. For example when they over-control, avoid them, whilst
when they give you more space, even a little, look at them and smile
(identity stroking). Be very subtle in all this -- if the micromanager feels
micromanaged, they will react strongly.
In this way you will feel more in control yourself even as you give them
a greater sense of control. Living with a micromanager need not be
painful and it can be an interesting challenge
Seagull management
Description
'Seagull management' is a humorous term that is used to describe
a style of management whereby the person 'flies in, poops on you and
then flies away again'.
When they are there, they typically give criticism and direction in equal
quantities, often without any real understanding of what the job entails.
Then before you can object or ask what they really want, they have an
'important meeting' to go to.
The experience of having a seagull manager is not positive. Whilst they
are there, they talk non-stop and actively discourage anyone else from
saying anything. This can include avoiding eye contact and continuing to
talk over you if you start to say anything.
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