Online With The Professional Image
A monthly newsletter on building professional presence

November 2003

Good Morning! 

One topic that comes up often in our workshops and coaching sessions is "managing upward."  Almost everyone has a boss (or a board of directors,) and an effective working relationship with the person directly above you is critical to both your success and happiness on the job. In fact, recent Gallup studies have determined that the relationship with one's immediate supervisor is the crucial factor in whether that person stays or leaves. 

At the same time, it's also been our experience that many professionals don't believe they have the ability to influence this relationship very much, or they have tried without good results. 

We think this is a very unfortunate misconception, and in this month's issue we'll give you three concrete action steps for effectively communicating with this essential person in your working life.

We welcome your thoughts and comments.

Warm regards,

Managing Your Boss: A Critical Piece to Workplace Success

We frequently work with clients who have just been promoted to new positions.   Sometimes, early on, there is visible frustration.  The conversation can often go like this:

"I've been told I'm on the fast track in the company, and I'm eager to make a difference and make my boss happy.  But I don't know how to create the best working relationship with my boss, what accomplishments will really be valued, and what happens if I pick the wrong things to work on.  Also I have very little scheduled time with my boss so how do I make an impact?"

We see this kind of thing all the time.  With the downsizing and reorganization in American business today, the traditional boss-subordinate bond has been seriously weakened.  The goals haven't changed: grow the business, get results, make money for the company, but the time and opportunities for this boss/subordinate relationship to get up to speed have been drastically reduced. 

With this in mind, here are three key actions for managing your relationship with your boss. 

1.  Move Slowly.  Building bridges of trust takes time, particularly when building upward.  Establishing trust requires patience, finesse and sensitivity to understanding how different people like to be approached.  Don't discuss your personal problems or inquire about theirs. 

Business maturity and good judgment are crucial.  For example, last year a new hire walked into the office of the CEO, without an appointment or a heads-up, and "directly told him 4 areas that weren't working well and what could be done to correct them." (His former employer had an open door policy and this approach was admired and rewarded).  Much to his embarrassment, his new CEO did not receive the advice well, answered with a clipped response, and his perceived value went down several notches in the eyes of the CEO. 

Take time to study the habits, preferences and communication style of your boss.  Does he like the brief informality and convenience of email?  Do her meetings have defined start and stop times with a firm agenda?  Does he prefer to be briefed with written reports?  Are voice mails with bullets of information, rather than a narrative, a better approach to get a timely answer?

Each of us processes information in different ways, and you will benefit immeasurably by uncovering which of those ways your boss prefers.  

2.  Go In Asking, Not Telling.   Remember that what you're looking for is a relationship; a connection with someone who will open doors to the resources and information that you need to do your job effectively.  You have a much better chance of accomplishing this by asking questions than by giving answers. 

That means lots of eye contact, a relaxed but respectful posture, and the confidence that comes from genuine curiosity.  Demonstrating how good a listener you are will take you further than demonstrating how smart you are. 

3.  Do Your Mental Pre-Work.  When meeting with a senior executive, many of our clients have learned to take a few moments beforehand to center themselves emotionally.  Many have a favorite affirmation that they silently recite before walking into a potentially stressful or demanding situation.

Professional athletes take this centering a step further by visualizing success before they take the field; imagining various game scenarios and seeing themselves excelling.   Your meetings with your boss (particularly early on) require no less preparation or focus.

Working directly with your boss may be stressful.  That said, you have a great deal more control over the relationship and therefore, your ultimate success, than you may realize. 

Remember that your boss absolutely needs you to succeed as a part of his or her success.  The better your results, the better your boss' results.  Focus on how to make that relationship one of the best in your working life.