Opportunity of a lifetime

My boss has offerered to turn the company over to me in 2 years time. The problem is that I can’t stand the way he treats me. What do I do?

Dear F@W
I am 24 years old, and have the opportunity of a lifetime (I think). My boss, who is a very successful and honest person, is offering to turn his company over to me in 2 years time, which I am obviously very grateful for. The problem is that I don’t know if I can make it that long because anything that I do is by definition wrong if he did not do it himself. I know this is micromanaging, and I wonder how long I should put up with it before I tell him where to put his opportunity.

–Pissed off, Georgia

Dear Pissed off,
Micromanaging is such a common problem that we regularly encounter it. But your story has a slightly different twist with a real carrot dangling at the end of your rope. Your boss’s offer to turn the company over to you has likely distorted your ability to deal with the situation. Therefore, ask yourself how you would deal with the situation if there were no offer like this from your boss. If you would normally not put up with the way he treats you, then you should not do so now. I recommend that you sit down with your boss and mention to him that if he wants you to take over his company, he will need to have more faith in your ability. Give him a couple of specific examples where he has questioned or criticized something you have done. End off by asking him to delegate in the true sense of the word, and have you report to him on your progress at agreed intervals without getting involved in what you are doing or how you are doing it. The conversation will at least alert your boss to the problem, and he may well try to improve. If he doesn’t, send us another note, and we will offer you some additional suggestions.