I thought I’d kick off the week of work-related topics by focusing on the single most important relationship in your working life – the one with your boss.
I happen to be very fortunate. My boss is a mom of four kids, who has dealt with some outright craziness when it comes to being a working mom. She’s had bosses tell her, “Come back when you’re ready to be serious about your career,” as she called off work to stay home with a sick child. She knows. She’s been there. So she’s pretty flexible if I need to take my daughter to the doctor, or if my son needs to stay home from daycare because of a fever.
But that is not to say that everything is hunky-dory. I struggle in our relationship because we are polar opposites. She likes to talk and be in the center of conversations, whereas I like to sit on the sideline, be alone in my thoughts and only really open my mouth when I have something constructive to say. I try to be more talkative and speak up so that she doesn’t see me as “the quiet one,” a label I’ve gotten with every new interaction for the past 10 years.
Maybe you have the same problem. Or maybe it’s the opposite problem. Maybe you’re the talkative one and your boss would prefer you take it down a notch. Or maybe your boss is more of this type….
Whew! Yeah, I don’t know how long I’d last in a position like that…
But we all need a few tips, a little advice on how to make the most of our relationship with our bosses, right? I found these five tips on Poynter.org and thought they were worth sharing:
- Be crystal clear about your boss’ priorities.
This doesn’t mean waiting for that person to tell you. It means being a good reporter. Ask questions. Get clarity. Don’t assume you know. And don’t assume what you know hasn’t changed since the last time you checked.- Adapt to your boss’ work style.
How does your boss like to exchange information, set and honor deadlines, do meetings, deal with pressure and delegate? Where is there opportunity for you to align your style or help fill in some of the boss’s gaps?Click through to the article to see the last three tips.
I’m taking some of these solutions to heart. I’ve had the same boss for almost three years. I need to get it together. The days of claiming “I’m just a rookie” are long gone….
Need more tips on how to have a great relationship with your boss? Check out these articles:
Get ahead when the boss is not your BFF – Clutch magazine
20 Questions You Should Be Able to Answer About Your Boss - Poynter.org
Conquer Criticism – Tips to Overcome it – OnPoint Communications
Have some tips on making the most of your 9 to 5? Let’s hear it in the comments! Remember, what’s old advice to you, is brand new to someone else. Share what you’ve learned.
