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ranobroto · Newbie Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

With all of the attention today on effective management techniques and the need for people skills, it's surprising that one of the most critical areas to getting ahead in your career doesn't get much attention - the fine art of managing your boss.

Managing your boss isn't a matter of "apple polishing" or playing politics. It involves working together to generate the best solutions for you, your boss and your company.

Many talented people are stuck in the old paradigm of expecting their boss to manage them. They take a passive, reactive stance, waiting for direction and support. They may complain about a bad boss, but do little to turn things around themselves. They don't know the small but essential steps they can take to establish a productive dialogue. Don't fall into this trap. Don't assume that your boss knows what you need in order to do your job well. Don't assume that your actions are in sync with his or her expectations and priorities. Stay in touch. Communicate. Check things out.

Your Most Critical Working Relationship

Your boss links you to the rest of your company. When your relationship works well, your priorities will be consistent with your company's goals and you'll be able to advance more rapidly in your career.

If you want to influence the outcome of your relationship with your boss, you have to take responsibility. Waiting for your boss's direction can ultimately hurt your chances for advancement.

Action Steps

Here are some action steps you can take RIGHT NOW to build a more productive and rewarding relationship with your boss.

First Identify Your Boss's Priorities - Your boss's opinion about you is critical. By learning and attending to her priorities and goals, you become more valuable. This doesn't mean that you need to agree with everything your boss says. When properly handled, disagreements can build your credibility and gain you greater support.

Ask WIIFH? - Before you present your ideas to your boss, ask, "What's in it for him?" Think about how your activities further your boss's goals and priorities. When you can link your activities to benefits for your boss, you are much more likely to get support for what you need.

Under-Promise and Over-Deliver - Always be conservative in your commitments. There's a natural tendency to want to impress and please others by making big promises. However, no matter how much you actually accomplish, if you don't meet the expectations you set, you can't help but damage your reputation. When you deliver or over-deliver on your promises, you build credibility in the eyes of your superiors.

Don't Focus Solely on Problems - Yes, your boss is busy. But just because you're lucky to get a few moments, doesn't mean you should focus only on difficulties. Make sure your regular meetings include discussions of positive performance.

Offer Solutions - Never take a problem to your boss without offering possible solutions at the same time. This gives you an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving ability. It pays to look for ways to develop your creativity and view problems from different angles.

Learn to Solicit Feedback Effectively - It's important to get regular feedback from your boss. If you don't, you risk being surprised at your performance reviews. However, the way you go about soliciting feedback is important and depends on your boss's personality and style.

Everything you achieve in your career, you will achieve through relationships with others. And no relationship can have a greater impact on your career than your relationship with your boss.

Today, relationship strategies rule the world. It's up to you to learn and apply them, to maximize your performance and achieve the results you want[/url]

kingopayne · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:52 pm Post subject: managing your boss

I agree that instead of waiting for our boss to tailor their actions to suit us, we need to actively participate in modifying our work environment to allow us to perform at our best.

I have a recurring problem which I'm only now coming to identify, and that is having a more experienced driller on site, as my boss, when there's not enough work for them to keep them busy.

They tend to constantly meddle with my crew, and my approach to the hole, and even simple tasks. I grow frustrated and it spreads to my crew. Our overall performance drops, and seems to justify the need for someone there, to show us how to do things. It's really a horrible feedback loop.

As I mulled this over last night, after a hellish day with a stellar crew and the owner/driller, I came up with a policy that I would not work with a senior driller on site, unless they were up to their arse in paperwork.

But how do I tell my boss of my new policy? He's my boss...

And is it a good policy?

I'm a bit stumped. He has a lot of pride which I can't afford to cause affront to.

I need to either keep my boss away from my drill, or integrate him more effectively.

Suggestions?

Randy

[quote="ranobroto"]

Everything you achieve in your career, you will achieve through relationships with others.

No arguing that point, or:

And no relationship can have a greater impact on your career than your relationship with your boss.

But to say that the previous

...isn't a matter of "apple polishing" or playing politics...

is disingenuous at best.

You're arguing in favor of the newer "business models" in which competence and proven results are secondary to the emphasis upon these "relationships."

And that's certainly valid. So please understand that I'm not disputing the reality of the situation as you present it, only with the fact that it IS the reality. I'm old so I simply miss the days in which one's work could stand alone and speak for itself.

ank06 · Expert Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 248 Career Advice: +1/-0

Usually.....there's no such thing as "managing" your boss....maybe the other way around...But I get your point and all I have to say is that I don't have any problem in "handleing" my boss. She's 27, I'm 24...it's practically too close of a relationship to even bother managing her. Very Happy

It's not that I'm not a good employer...meaning an insubordinated one....but I know how to take her in sucjh a way in which I don't get into disadvantage. Sure, She's allright and all, meaning she's not a tirant so....It's easy.

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