Your boss, like it or not, will play an important role in your professional life. Why? Well, if you want to continue to climb the career ladder and make forward progress in your career, your boss’s favourable opinion is very important. Plus, having a good relationship with your manager is also key to being happy at work. Here are tips to improve, grow, and strengthen your relationship with your boss.
Be a great employee
Let’s start with the obvious, shall we? You can be the friendliest, most outgoing person in the entire office, but if your work is sub-par and you refuse to offer any sort of contributions to your team? Well, getting your boss (and your coworkers, for that matter!) to think highly of you is going to be pretty much impossible. Your first step is to ensure you’re an awesome employee that’s truly adding value to your organisation. It seems basic, but a positive reputation will lay the groundwork for a better relationship with your colleagues – especially your boss!
Get to know your boss personally
You don’t need to be friends with your boss or hang out with them on the weekends. However, it couldn’t hurt to ask them how their weekend was or find out what their hobbies and interests are outside of work. Bosses are human, so communicate with them on a personal level.
Demonstrate your innovation and initiative
Every manager wants a company full of motivated and productive employees. Showing that you’re excited to take on new projects will help both you and your boss be more successful. If you work in an office where people are constantly pitching ideas for new products, services, projects, or process improvements, don’t be afraid to raise your hand and volunteer to take the initiative on something. Being innovative and taking initiative shows your manager that you’re invested in growing with the company, and that is bound to lead to a better relationship between the two of you.
Maintain confidentiality
Bosses value employees who are tactfully in handling sensitive and confidential information. Confidential information in the workplace includes trade secrets; human resources records; personal information; salary information; medical records; list of customers and their contact information; production or operation processes and prototypes.
Know your manager’s communication style
Some bosses passively sit back and listen while others probe you with one question after another; some want lots of information while others only want the essential details; some bosses relate in a casual relaxed style while others are all business. Part of your job is to figure out how your manager operates and relate to him or her accordingly.
Have a good attitude towards work
What kind of attitude do you have at work? Your internal attitude affects the spirit in which you perform your work and also how you interact with others. Ways to develop a good attitude include being kind to yourself and others; smiling; admitting your mistakes and learn from them; accepting compliments graciously; praising others genuinely; complaining tactfully; identifying the good things that are happening in your life and being grateful; using positive and uplifting words. Other ways are having a sense of humor; having goals for your life and constantly work on achieving your life’s vision and strengthening your self-confidence by always doing advance preparation.
All in all, we want great relationships with our bosses. It certainly helps in making those 40+ hours you spend in the office each week that much better! Put these six tips to use, and you’re sure to notice improvements right away!
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