Being an independent contractor is like an adventure into the unknown - where navigating difficult personalities and adapting to different work styles becomes part of the excitement and challenge. In the various projects I have worked on, I have encountered different management styles including but not limited to micromanagement, bullying, stealing credit, and panic-driven.
These bad management styles are not specific to the consulting industry; they can be found in any industry, making work unbearable or toxic. As a consultant, we have to operate with a “the client is always right mentality,” which can make the simplest of tasks a challenge to accomplish. Over the years, I’ve picked up a few strategies for managing these tricky situations.
Micromanagement:
Managers who want to oversee every minute detail and have multiple status updates throughout the day are usually created because they don’t know how to delegate, have been burned by unreliable employees, or are pressured from upper management. To manage this, work on establishing trust. You can do that by being proactive and anticipating their needs beforehand. For instance, summarize the action items that are pending/completed and send a daily email to your manager. This not only serves as written documentation of the work that you are doing, but it also establishes a clear path of communication between you and the manager.
Even with regular updates, sometimes managers might miss them. During meetings, pull up your email to demonstrate your progress. This shows you're on top of your tasks and builds your reputation as a reliable and self-sufficient contractor. Worst case scenario, you have built a strong case for yourself of all the tasks you have accomplished should you need to polish up your resume for a better opportunity.
Bullying:
As a young woman in the industry, I've faced individuals who have abused their power, made harsh remarks, or issued ultimatums of terminating my contract. I've undergone personal attacks and intense anxiety due to lack of feeling secure in my job that had little to do with my performance and all to do with management.
If you ever feel threatened or unsafe, report the behavior to upper management or HR. Your mental health is paramount, and finding a project where you're valued is crucial. However, dealing with toxic people like that requires you to build a thicker skin. Recognize that the deficiencies are not in you; often times bad managers feel embolden when they are putting down other people. Number one lesson I learned is don’t take things personally. Don’t make work your identity otherwise the attacks from disgruntled people will sprout a seed of doubt in yourself.
Second, always keep a written trail of evidence should you need it. Always summarize meetings and email the recap back to the manager so you can reference this at a later point. If your manager is asking for you to work extra or outside of what you have agreed upon, you can always send an email of the current action items you have and ask them to deprioritize a few things. If they try to create a narrative that you aren't completing all the tasks, you can always reference the email exchange.
Stealing credit:
Having someone take credit for your work can be incredibly frustrating and disheartening. Keep a meticulous record of all the work you have done. You can also add senior management as a CC or BCC to the emails that you are sending with your work. This will ensure that the right people know the work is being completed by you.
Panic-driven:
In a high intensity project with impossible deadlines, it is easy to encounter managers or stakeholders that are in perpetual panic mode. This can create a stressful environment where you’re walking on eggshells. To counteract this, maintain your calm and offer stability. When faced with a manager’s anxiety, respond with a steady demeanor and ask, “How can I help?” Your composed approach can reassure them and demonstrate that you’re capable of managing the situation effectively.
Navigating these diverse personalities and management styles can be challenging, but each experience is a chance to learn and grow. Embrace the adventure, and remember that each challenge you overcome adds to your expertise and resilience.
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