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Managing your relationship with your boss is essential, as you spend most of your waking hours in the office. A difficult relationship can impede productivity and hinder your ability to give your best. By managing your boss effectively, you can bring your best work and achieve more in the workplace.
Managing your boss implies building a relationship with them where they appreciate you, advocate for you and are actively involved in taking your career to the next level. In the long run, you have the most to gain if you can manage your boss successfully.
Here are some tips on how you can successfully manage your boss:
Use your boss’s preferred method of communication
Everyone has a means of communication they prefer. It might be a preference for calls, texts or emails. Similarly, some people like to talk through their problems, while others prefer to take some time to reflect on them alone. Take the time to observe how your boss likes to communicate and adopt that style when communicating with them. The more you communicate with them in their preferred manner, the better they would hear and process what you are saying.
Be a problem solver
The purpose of putting teams together is to solve problems. Endeavour to look for creative ways to make your boss’ life easier by helping to solve problems that are likely to crop up. Try to avoid being a part of the problem. Also, avoid going to your boss with problems without at least one viable strategy to tackle them. Managing these issues proactively will help you demonstrate your problem-solving skills and show that you are capable of managing difficult situations.
Always hold yourself accountable
If you make a mess of things, don’t resort to blaming others, but ensure you take responsibility and manage the situation. Demonstrate accountability by owning up to your mistakes, offering possible steps that can remedy the situation, and how to prevent them in the future.
Avoid making excuses
Instead of making excuses to avoid responsibility, it is better to own up to your mistakes. By acknowledging your errors, you demonstrate maturity and a willingness to improve. Furthermore, actively working to rectify the situation and do better in the future minimises the damage and reinforces a positive image.
Understand how your boss evaluates you
If you work in sales, for instance, are you being evaluated based on the number of sales you make or the value of each sale? The most effective way to ensure that you are meeting your boss’s expectations is through regular communication. Endeavour to reach out to your boss at least once a week to stay informed about what areas that require improvement and to ensure that you are aligning your efforts with their desired outcomes.
Know your boss’ goals
To excel in your role, it is important to not only understand how your performance is being evaluated by your boss but also to gain insight into their overall goals and objectives. You can do this by taking the initiative to help the department meet its deadlines efficiently. In addition to this, think strategically. Identify opportunities to contribute to the department’s success, and stay updated on changes in the department’s objectives.
Treat your relationship with your boss with the same care as other important relationships. Start by showing respect, kindness, and understanding. Additionally, demonstrate your reliability and trustworthiness by developing habits that reflect these qualities. This will help you will lay the foundation for a productive and successful collaboration.
Have you ever felt your boss does not like you? Be open to feedback and willing to make changes. Your boss not liking you may be due to a lack of willingness to improve or take feedback. Be open to constructive criticism and actively seek feedback from your boss. Show that you are willing to make changes and improve in areas where they see fit. This will show them that you are dedicated to your job and willing to put in the effort to succeed. Additionally, managing your boss effectively requires you to be proactive and take the initiative to make improvements.
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