Are you working with a difficult boss?
I invite you to think about what makes it difficult to work with them. Are they bullies or tyrants? Do you know their goals and priorities enough to anticipate their needs? Are you able to offer them valuable perspectives and be their confidant? Have you prioritized building a good relationship with them?
Your boss is your boss. Your job is to support their success. Building a good relationship with them and partnering with them gives you a solid foundation to get ahead in your career.
Here are some actions that will help you be trusted and valued by your boss –
- Know your boss well enough to know their goals and objectives, their strengths, weaknesses, blind spots, their preferred working style, and what keeps them awake at night. It will allow you to anticipate their needs, proactively offer your help, share your perspectives, display your strengths, and contribute to their success.
- Position yourself as a problem solver, someone who makes their life easier. When you identify an issue in the workplace, offer possible solutions instead of just bringing the problem to their attention. Go a step ahead and offer to lead the execution of the solution.
- Never let them get blindsided. If you have ended up making a mistake or know a customer is angry. Don’t wait for your boss to hear about this from someone else. Be upfront in sharing the details of the situation and the corrective action that you have taken. Whether it is bad news or good, always prepare your boss.
- Nurture the relationship. Know your boss as a person – how are they as a person? How did they get where they are now? What lessons did they learn along the way? What do they hold dear? What motivates them? What are their pet peeves? When you truly know them, it is easier to collaborate with them.
So knowing your boss and their goals and challenges, anticipating their needs, being solution-oriented, and not letting them get caught off guard will help you be your boss’s ally and get ahead in your career.
If this is your challenge at the moment, consider one on one coaching with me. You can know more by booking a call at https://calendly.com/neelimachakara/60min