Recently, my boss has started interfering with my projects, limiting my creativity and it's really affecting me. I constantly receive feedback like 'do it this way, take this like that' and it's lowering my motivation. How do you think I can resolve this situation that I'm uncomfortable with at work?
It always annoys me when the boss acts like this 🫠
Is he/she intervening enough to completely change the patron projects? Or is it just like guidance?
@kahvebitmeden gets really confusing for me conceptually. For example, it completely diverts a project I've started in a completely different direction. This overwhelms me.
@aklimkaldi well, this is the main rule of being a boss, you just touch it as it suits you. Your job is not to complain, but to filter what he says.
there might be others comparing themselves to you here. Maybe they want to outdo someone or something like that.
Have you tried speaking openly? Gently express that "my creativity is diminishing" and that it’s becoming so complicated.
Direct interventions like this in corporate communication generally harm business outcomes. To maintain your own motivation, I suggest providing feedback constructively. But both you and he/she need to clarify those authorities — sometimes, the boundaries of responsibilities are not defined, which can lead to issues.
@hatconene The part about interfering as it suits you is a bit ridiculous. If you put too much pressure on an employee, they either lose interest in the job or just quit directly 🙄
Sometimes clients get into the "I know everything" mode, whereas it's you who's on the ground. Does it hit them that they risk ruining everything after a couple of silly decisions? Or do they cling even more to the projects? This needs to be tested.
Trying out that test is risky but depends on the boss. Some people insist on their mistakes, mistaking a warning for an opportunity. If someone has experienced it in the office before, take a look at that issue. Maybe there are similar examples.
Has there been such a friction with your boss before? If you've previously followed their advice and received good results, they might trust their interventions. But if they keep mixing things up, they need to sit down with you and figure out "why they are doing this" 🥲
Can you foresee the response your boss will have when you say something like "I'm losing my creativity"? Because some people will interpret it as "I guess more guidance is needed," and will increase the level of intervention. What people refer to as "delicate expression" isn't always as effective as it seems; you also need the intelligence to perceive that delicacy.
It can be problematic to act without understanding the patron's overall attitude. For example, does he have a detailed interest in the issues he's intervening in? Or is it just a case of control freakiness? I think the approach would change based on that.
How well your boss understands the details of the work is an important point, but also pay attention to how they view your skills. Do they see you as someone who needs guidance or as someone who can successfully take the lead on the project? Perhaps there's a total lack of confidence, and that's why they keep trying to impose their own touch. You might need to change this perception.
Maybe he does this to others as well, why not ask a couple of coworkers? It would be good to clarify whether it's a general habit or something specific to you. The strategy would change accordingly.
Or maybe they don't like taking risks in projects? For example, if they experienced a bad outcome once, they might not have been able to overcome that trauma. They might be suppressing your opinion for this reason as well. If you're not aware of that detail, you could be subjected to interventions that turn into psychodrama.
Is there maybe a situation where it feels like someone is testing you? Like, are you handling things well despite their interventions, and how do you react in crises? Perhaps it's worth asking them directly, "What do you think I'm lacking in this job that makes you feel the need to intervene?"
Have you considered that these interventions might not be to "control you" but rather to "show his authority"? In other words, it might be less about you and more about trying to spread the message to the environment that "I am the one in charge here." If that's the case, instead of debating with him, you might be able to direct this need for display in a way that suits you.
But how does he intervene? Does he directly change the project, or does he get involved and try to guide you? The two produce different outcomes because one is total distrust, while the other might be just a lack of communication 😅
You need to understand whether the patron's interventions are specifically about the project or generally about your working style. Maybe they don’t like your style but can’t say it openly? If it’s about the style, there may need to be a more straightforward conversation.
Maybe the boss initially tried to establish authority by being strict, but then couldn't let go? At first, they might have put on the air of a "detail-oriented leader," but now this could have turned into a repetitive pattern. Even if they say, "trust me," the old habits might kick in like a reflex. I think this also relates to their ability to show the courage to say, "I'm stepping out of my boss mode."
So, are his interventions truly improving the outcome, or are they complicating the process? Perhaps he is not analyzing the impact of his own interventions. If it is making the process more difficult, it might be helpful to express this with concrete examples.
It could also be this: Maybe their trust in you decreased because of something they heard from someone else, but they can't talk about it openly? So these interventions might actually stem from a rumor you're completely unaware of. Are they not sharing it with anyone, or are they giving indirect messages? I think it's worth taking a look.
