Understanding the proper care and feeding of bosses is an essential skill for career success. Some would call this “managing up.” Yes, there are the good, the bad and the ugly bosses, but no matter which type you have at the moment, everyone is better off when you proactively manage up. Here are seven tips for the care and feeding of bosses:
1. Stay loyal: While you may not agree with everything your boss does, it’s important to remain loyal. The boss sets the direction and the tone and it’s your job to be loyal and supportive. Unless they are asking you to do something illegal, or immoral, never go above your boss’s head. If you feel that is necessary, it’s probably time to update your resume.
2. Understand priorities: Understand your boss’s goals and priorities.If your boss considers something important, you need to consider it important. Be sure you are clear about priorities and if unsure, ask for clarification. Consider what may be important for your overall organization, not just your area of work. Your boss may be the single most important person in your career currently, be sure you focus on his or her priorities and you will find your boss supportive of you.
3. Learn what the boss likes: Learn to understand what your supervisor likes and dislikes. If the boss seems irritated when people are late for meetings, don’t be late. Does the boss like the phone over email for communications with you? Use the phone. There are often reasons a supervisor has these preferences. By understanding what the boss likes, you can avoid clashes. There should also never be any surprises. If you realize goals are not going to be attained, the sooner you tell your boss the better. No one likes negative surprises.
4. Seek feedback: Seek feedback from your boss and ask questions. When you do, be sure you listen and utilize your boss as a coach and mentor. Some of the strongest relationships of your career will be developed when you open up and let a successful boss mentor you.
5. Be supportive: Always be supportive of your boss. “The walls have ears” and you never want to be suspected of speaking negatively about your supervisor. It’s also your job to make your boss look good – yes it’s true. This is an unspoken rule and one that successful corporate executives have learned. If you are giving a presentation to your boss’s managers, be sure to give credit to your boss. Lastly, don’t be a whiner.
6. Disagree intelligently: We spend a lot of time at work and those hours will be more enjoyable when you have a great working relationship with your boss. When you do need to disagree with your boss, do so carefully, intelligently and diplomatically. It’s best if it can be done in private.
7. Sometimes it’s you: This last tip may be the most important. It’s not uncommon when coaching someone that it becomes obvious the issue is not the person’s boss, but the individual I’m coaching. A common phrase these individuals will say is “I know more than my boss.” Executives are frequently hired not for their subject matter expertise, but for their ability to manage. If you are not supportive of your boss and publicly criticize them, you may be sabotaging your own career. It’s best to seek feedback from a trusted advisor and be sure it’s not you.
The most successful people manage their boss effectively. It’s important to put yourself in other’s shoes to understand where they are coming from and your boss is no different. Seek to understand your supervisor and how you can help them be successful. If you seek to support your boss, you may find they support you and even become a mentor to you for the rest of your career. By seeking first to understand and listening with intent to the needs and desires of the other person, you can enhance all relationships.
