This week’s topic came from a listener who asked if micromanaging is a more productive work-style than a more “free range” approach. We talk about our own work experiences, and answer a few other miscellaneous work questions about performance improvement plans (“PIPs”), handling an incompetent boss, office odors, and more.

Our guest this week is Erik Baker, historian at Harvard, editor at The Drift, and author of Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America, who walks us through the history of the corporate work structure and evolution of management styles. 

Check out our newsletter for links to research and more. 

Fill out our NST listener survey here.

Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286

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This week&rsquo;s topic came from a listener who asked if micromanaging is a more productive work-style than a more &ldquo;free range&rdquo; approach. We talk about our own work experiences, and answer a few other miscellaneous work questions about performance improvement plans (&ldquo;PIPs&rdquo;), handling an incompetent boss, office odors, and more.
Our guest this week is <a href="https://www.erikmbaker.com/">Erik Baker</a>, historian at Harvard, editor at <a href="https://www.thedriftmag.com/">The Drift</a>, and author of <a href="https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674293601">Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America</a>, who walks us through the history of the corporate work structure and evolution of management styles.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.nosuchthing.show/p/does-micromanaging-actually-work">Check out our newsletter for links to research and more.</a>&nbsp;
Fill out our <a href="https://forms.gle/gPXJfEBc5n584kog7">NST listener survey here.</a>
Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286
EXCLUSIVE&nbsp;NordVPN Deal ➼ <a href="http://www.nordvpn.com/nst">http://www.nordvpn.com/nst</a> &nbsp;
Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan — three best friends and journalists — as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research. 

Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don’t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.

NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can’t agree on. If you’ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.

New episodes on Wednesdays.

For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show.

And if you have any questions you’d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan &mdash; three best friends and journalists &mdash; as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research.&nbsp;
Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don&rsquo;t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.
NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can&rsquo;t agree on. If you&rsquo;ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at <a href="http://www.nosuchthing.show">www.nosuchthing.show</a>.
And if you have any questions you&rsquo;d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

NO SUCH THING

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan &mdash; three best friends and journalists &mdash; as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research.&nbsp;
Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don&rsquo;t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.
NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can&rsquo;t agree on. If you&rsquo;ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at <a href="http://www.nosuchthing.show">www.nosuchthing.show</a>.
And if you have any questions you&rsquo;d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

Does micromanaging actually work?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f01ee5fd-fe88-4465-80af-b43a01549deb/transcript