In need of advice? Have a question you are dying to ask, but don’t know where to turn? Introducing Make An Ask WID’s advice column designed to answer your most pressing development and career questions! We invite you to send in questions to widny@widny.org.
“My direct report micromanages-up and it is driving me crazy. I am already organized so I find this behavior unnecessary and distracting – not to mention somewhat disrespectful. Just some examples… Upon completion of assignments, she sends me multiple reminders – email, text, DM – if I do not review her work immediately. She has also included herself in meetings without asking. I appreciate her enthusiasm, especially since she’s new to the field, but she doesn’t seem to understand that she reports to me – not the other way around. Any suggestions on how to manage my micromanaging associate?”
LM: This is a great twist on the more stereotypical micromanaging supervisor! First, do a quick inventory to confirm that you are meeting your promised deadlines and that you have scheduled check-ins, so she has plenty of opportunity to communicate with you. If that’s not the source of the issue, I would take these problems on one at a time – she might not see how they are linked. Since she’s new to the field, you will probably need to tell her both what you want her to stop doing, and what she should do instead. “If you see a meeting you think you should be part of, please don’t add yourself to the invite. Instead, let me know you would like to attend and why, and I will let you know if it’s possible.” “Rather than sending me multiple follow-ups after sending me something to review, please put the deadline in your subject line and I will confirm by email that I have received it. Make sure to build in enough time that it’s not a rush. If the deadline is approaching and you haven’t heard from me, feel free to ping me again!”
“I have been with my company for two years and have not received a raise or promotion. I continue to get positive feedback, as well as mid-year and annual reviews, plus I am bringing in new money. I love my organization, but I have noticed that they are not big on promoting from within and many people stay at the same level for many years. When I agreed to join, I was told that there would be opportunities for advancement, but it seems like that was more aspirational than realistic. I am afraid that if I ask for a raise I will be turned down or considered negatively because everyone seems to accept things as they are. Any suggestions on how to make the case for promotion when I am in a culture of status quo?”
LM: You should talk to your supervisor! Just like working with donors, it helps to be direct and clear. Ideally this conversation would center around a scheduled feedback time, like annual reviews, but if there’s not an opportunity coming up, let your supervisor know you’d like to set aside some time in your next check-in. Let them know you would like to explore opportunities for growth at your organization, and be prepared to share your vision for what that growth might look like, including the expanded scope of work you would like to take on and a proposed title. If they’re receptive to considering it, agree on when you will discuss it next (again, just like working with a donor!). Hopefully this will go the way you hope and your supervisor will appreciate knowing what you are looking for as a next step – keep in mind that promotion cycles have accelerated, and two years in a role might not seem so long to some folks. But if you do get a negative reaction, it’s still better to know that your organization might not be the best fit for you over the long term. Good luck!
About the columnist: Laura McGinley is Chief External Relations Officer at University Settlement, a historic community-based organization in Manhattan and Brooklyn serving 40,000 New Yorkers, where she oversees development, marketing and communications. Prior to University Settlement, Laura was Senior Director of Development at Uncommon Schools and Senior Director of Annual Giving at New York University. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, daughter, and a cat named Pineapple.