When working with micromanagers, it’s best to keep your whereabouts to yourself. This includes which tasks are under your name, who you report to for what, and everything else that happens in the workplace. Why? The alternative is having a colleague breathe down your neck for something as unimportant as office bagel orders. Yeah… So much so that they insist you create a spreadsheet to track the bagel orders paired with the shop’s reward points system.
It’s not fun ostracizing a colleague, but it’s worse to deal with one who makes your job (and life in general) more difficult. Though you might have a certain level of empathy for the micromanaging colleague in question, you must remember how ridiculous a fixation this bagel ordering situation is…
At the end of the day, the office is what you make of it. If the bagel-obsessive coworker insists that you make a spreadsheet, tell them to do it instead. Consider reporting a colleague for harassment (if applicable). And last but not least… Always remember that you are replaceable to your employer—no need to be loyal to a company that doesn’t prioritize your well-being.
