Effective ways to better work with your boss and manager

Effective ways to better work with your boss and manager

While the boss usually looks at the monetary plan view of the company’s revenue, with a top priority in having hardworking employees, it’s just as important to the boss that they dislike superficial relationships with the people they work with every day.

You may have a long list of attributes, experience and career accomplishments, but the extent of your contributions or impact you have on the company will not be noticed if this is not conveyed clearly to your boss. Employees who do good work consistently and professionally, are often a joy to manage and ultimately frees the manager to focus on other critical issues. As the saying goes, “People are hired because of their talents but are fired because of their attitude”.

Productive, respectful and transparent relationships between a boss and his or her employees, is key to secure employment! So if you’re experiencing others in your company getting promoted, given assignments, or recognition you believe you deserve, it might be because you’re not making your accomplishments known. To ensure your manager and the rest of the organization aware of your contributions, here are some tips for adding the feather to your beret.

Keep your boss/manager informed & updated on your work & progress.
You can’t assume that your boss or manager knows what you’re doing, the great progress you’ve made, or the obstacles you’ve overcome unless you make it a point share that information. Waiting for the one-on-one session or annual review is usually too late. Most of your accomplishments will be old news. Besides, the impression of you has already been deeply formed by your boss/manager.

You should pro-actively set an appointment with your boss/manager, preferably on a weekly basis or at least bi-weekly, to update him or her on the status of your work, emphasizing on what you have done right, intention or plans on how you are going to overcome your challenges etc bringing him or her up to speed on what’s happening on your watch and keeping track on the goals/KPIs you have.

By having regular conversations, you’ll remind your manager of your value—and keep it in the front of his or her mind on an ongoing basis, instead of just once a year.

Focus on Results, Not Just Your Activities
As a manager myself, it is very often that I encounter people I have regular meetings with, tends to focus on their list of activities they had completed throughout the week, from making phone calls to meeting clients, etc without touching much on the results of these activities. Activities are useless unless it comes with a goal set, and is achieved. What your manager really wants to know is the impact and results of those activities on the company.

Be pro-active and have ownership
Always be ready to provide and make a thought through recommendation or comment on your work, or issues that would make an impact to your work. Be sure to know what’s important to your audience and how to present the information you have in the most effective way. This reflects your presentation, communication skills, as well as your capability to think on your feet and to make sound decisions.

Be the solution and not the problem
Don’t rely on your boss or manager to fix everything. It is easy to pinpoint a problem when it arises, and it is usually obvious to others too. Instead, offer suggestions and if appropriate, roll up your sleeves to address the problem. No one likes a negative person. Always try to seek ways to solve the problem of adversity instead of complaining.

Get practical recognition for your work
Solicit for appreciation from your clients or colleagues as a form of feedback for your work well done! This will not only go down well with your superior but is also a measuring stick and gauge on productivity, achievements, and yardstick for your activities. A brief note to your manager outlining how you helped get a desired result, overcome an obstacle, or move the project forward will generate visibility, reminding those higher-ups of your ability to achieve great things. Communicate with your boss regularly to make sure your goals and priorities are in sync.

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