With all the current attention on effective management techniques and the need to
people skills, surprisingly one of the most critical areas for getting ahead in your career
doesn’t get much attention – the fine art of managing your boss.

Managing your boss is not a matter of “polishing apples” or playing politics. it implies
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 posture, waiting for direction and support. Which can
they complain about a bad boss, but do little to change things. they do not
know the small but essential steps they can take to establish a productive dialogue.
Don’t fall into this trap. Don’t assume your boss knows what he needs to
do your job well Don’t assume your actions are in sync with his or hers.
expectations and priorities. Stay in contact. Communicate. Look at things.

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 goals and you will be able to advance faster in your career.

If you want to influence the outcome of your relationship with your boss, you must
take responsibility Waiting for direction from your boss can ultimately hurt your chances
for advance

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 of you is fundamental. By learning and paying attention to your priorities and goals, you become more valuable. This doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything your boss says. When handled properly, disagreements can increase your credibility and garner greater support.
• Ask WIIFH? – Before presenting 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 his activities to benefits for your boss, he’s much more likely to get support for what he needs.
• Under promise and deliver more – Always be conservative in your commitments. There is a natural tendency to want to impress and please others by making big promises. However, no matter how much you actually achieve, if you don’t live up to the expectations you set, you can’t help but damage your reputation. When you meet or exceed your promises, you build credibility in the eyes of your superiors.
• Don’t just focus on problems – Yes, your boss is busy. But just because you’re lucky enough to have a few moments doesn’t mean you should focus only on the difficulties. Make sure your regular meetings include discussions about positive performance.
• Offer Solutions – Never take a problem to your boss without offering possible solutions at the same time. This gives you a chance to show off his problem-solving ability. It is worth looking for ways to develop his creativity and see problems from different angles.
• Learn how to solicit feedback effectively – It is important to receive regular feedback from your boss. If you don’t, you risk being surprised by your performance reviews. However, how you solicit 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.