5 ms·

Interesting, never heard about this dynamic before. How does spreading rumors help them get out of being micromanaged? (sincere question)

• deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
• praptak 10y ago
  I don't believe that spreading rumors can magically transform a micromanaging boss. What it can do is keep them occupied, just as any other form of employee micro-sabotage. It also makes the workplace generally crappier.
  • intended 10y ago
    This stuff is so deeply frightening, to someone like me. I am color blind to a vast range of interpersonal interactions, the fact that people have a vocabulary/taxonomy of interactions which includes or can generate - "micro sabotage"... hints at a world too exhausting to imagine
    • arethuza 10y ago
      Have a read of this: http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-or-the-office-according-to-the-office/ http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-o... You probably won't thank me if you do read it - it changes the way you evaluate people...
      • intended 10y ago
        Haha, I've read it, and It's great fun.
    • Bartweiss 10y ago
      For whatever it's worth, the amount of this in different workplaces seems to vary from "virtually none" to "run away screaming". At the best places, I assume this happens a bit, but it's pretty easy to ignore it completely and still do well by being a good employee. At the worst places, it's apparent even to someone unaware that something is up, because people will make comments that are totally nonsensical unless you're neck-deep in the politicking. It also shows when smart people make obviously awful decisions - they're probably getting something out of it other than the good of the company.
      • intended 10y ago
        Thanks. I've thought about what you said, and I hope its largely true. It feels like something which would be true, but feelings arent evidence, so I am taking it as a source of hope.
• icu 10y ago
  The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is a must read for understanding this dynamic and others. In the case of spreading rumors the 39th of 48 'Laws of Power' applies: Stir up waters to catch fish Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective. But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance, find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.
• 77pt77 10y ago
  > How does spreading rumors help them get out of being micromanaged? It does it by getting the micromanaged fired.
• Spooky23 10y ago
  If you're dealing with a straw boss (someone who has lots of responsibility, but little authority), dealing with them in a negative way is pretty simple -- you undermine their position by making sure that bad news or news that marginalizes the straw boss gets to the authority figure before the "boss" can deliver it. Micromanagers and other really nasty people to work for are usually compensating for their own lack of power or security by making your life as miserable as possible. The existence of people like this is a red flag for the organization because it always leads to negative outcomes.