Like it or not, most of us are not the masters of our own destiny
at work. The relationship with our boss is often a defining factor in
our success and something that many of us lose sleep over at night. When
things start to get strained, for whatever reason, we have to resort to
“basics” in order to get things back on track. The best relationships
need constant attention, and if you do the following ten things on a
regular basis, then you shouldn’t go far wrong:
Do what you promise.
Your
boss wants every day to be as predictable and smooth as possible. When
they ask you to do something, they should not have to give it a second
thought. Expectations should be managed initially; you should give
regular progress updates and inform them of any issues that they might
need to resolve along the way. If you make a mistake, then be honest
about what went wrong and what you are doing to fix it.
Put their needs first.
You
are a team, and you have to work together to advance your careers. Your
boss is not superhuman – you should think about their weaknesses and
challenges and understand how best you might assist them. Thinking about
their needs will make you far more valuable, and you will receive their
genuine gratitude if you take on those responsibilities where they have
a lesser skillset (or interest).
Understand their style.
You
should observe your boss with others in order to understand their
natural preferences (as a good boss will also try to accommodate your
style when dealing with you). If they prefer email updates – drop them
an email, even if they sit right next to you. If they prefer not to be
interrupted while working on a big spreadsheet, then wait until they
have finished. If they open up to you and share some personal
information, well, my advice would be to do the same.
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