I know what you might be thinking. Isn’t it my boss’ job to manage me? Why do I, then, have to think at all about managing them?
Well, to put it simply, it’s because if you don’t at least try, you’re setting yourself up to fail slowly over time. Your boss is this other human being who is arguably one of the most important relationships you’ll ever have at work – so the way you manage that relationship can drive your career and personal development forward fast OR lead to your demise.
1. Be clear about your career goals
The more your manager knows about where you see yourself in five or ten years, or even in the next 6 months, the easier it is for them to empower you to achieve those goals and set you on the right path within the organization.
2. When problems arise, think about solutions
A common mistake people make when interacting with their boss or manager is bringing up complaints and problems without any thought about how to solve them. The better way to approach problems is to still bring them up to your manager, but when you do, also come prepared with ideas on how to solve them.
3. Give your manager honest feedback
Sharing what you think is going well is one thing, but you should also remember to go straight to your manager when you don’t agree with something they’ve said or done. Nobody’s perfect and they need your input to know what they could be improving on too!
4. Ask questions
Any time your manager has delivered news you don’t like, requested you complete a task you don’t feel qualified to perform, or otherwise frustrated or confused you, ask questions rather than casting judgment and getting frustrated.
