Life Under a Control Freak Boss: How to Navigate and Regain Your Confidence

In this solo episode, Dr. Laura explores one of the eight toxic boss personas featured in her book, *I Wish I'd Quit Sooner*: the control freak. She explains the important difference between a difficult manager who is learning to delegate and a truly toxic boss whose need for control stems from distrust and a desire to dominate every aspect of our work. From excessive micromanagement to restricting access to people and information, Dr. Laura reveals how this leadership style chips away at confidence and creates chronic anxiety, ultimately leaving us feeling trapped both at work and long after the workday ends. Dr. Laura shares practical strategies for surviving a control freak boss while protecting our wellbeing. She discusses the importance of documenting conversations, using playback techniques to clarify expectations, paying careful attention to details, and maintaining a Plan B when working in an unhealthy environment. Most importantly, she offers hope that recovery is possible. Based on her own experiences and drawing from the stories of toxic boss survivors in her North American research, Dr. Laura explains how confidence can be rebuilt one experience at a time. She assures us that escaping a toxic workplace becomes the beginning of a healthier and more fulfilling career.  *"Confidence is like a muscle. Confidence gets developed one experience at a time, one relationship at a time." - Dr. Laura* **About Dr. Laura:** Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services. Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018. Her new book, *I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss*, is available for purchase on Amazon now. **Resources:** The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant podcast “I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss” by Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett Dr. Laura on LinkedIn Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube   Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live **For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations:**  Canada Career Counselling Synthesis Psychology Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.