Your boss is the most important person in your reporting chain. Take the initiative to get to understand this individual on multiple levels. It is important that you know their expectations and hot buttons. There is no limit to the upside of building a good relationship. This individual can make your life challenging, rewarding and enjoyable. Conversely, this same person can make your life extremely stressful. For those individuals who have a functional and a program boss, the same applies to both. Each can open “opportunity” doors that you did not know existed.
A few simple ground rules are:
- Your most important job is your current job.
- Take the initiative to get to know your boss.
- Maintain confidences shared with you to yourself.
- Always keep the boss informed to preclude blindsiding.
- Complete boss’ tasks on or before their due date.
- Never give your boss a poorly written, incomplete report.
- Never embarrass your boss in a negative manner.
- Learn your boss’ written and unwritten policies.
- Never intentionally mislead or deceive your boss.
- Never criticize your boss to your team, your peers, or their superiors.
- Take initiative for “How Goes It’’ discussions.
It is very prudent that you get to know your boss on as many levels as possible. They have the power to make your job challenging, exciting, and rewarding. This individual can give you greater responsibility, visibility, authority and open new upward opportunities for you. This individual can highlight your successes or failures to their superiors in whatever light they wish to either grow or limit your career. A good boss will always highlight the accomplishments and talents of their people to their superiors while offering improvement areas in private.