If you like your boss then you are lucky, according to Fortune Magazine, apparently half of us have quit our jobs because of a bad boss; I am counted in this figure, as I remember the day I felt the relief of handing in my notice to the most tyrannical person I have met. Not everyone gets the option to do this and in most cases a bad relationship with your boss is salvageable. We need to be smart Working Ladies and learn to manage our bosses better.
Try a few of the tips below to improve the relationship with your boss
WALK IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS
Plenty of inspo is out there for us to see on ‘don’t judge until you walk in my footsteps’, however a bit of forethought on how your boss may be feeling could tip the scales in your favour. For example, you know your boss has a tight deadline to hit and is working through the day, be thoughtful of their needs, a quick “can I get you a cup of tea?” with a smile could make all the difference.
BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT YOUR BOSS
It always amazes me how people think that what they say to their peers will not reach management level, here is a fact – it does! Work environments are like pressure cookers, where most of us spend upwards of 40 hours a week. If you say anything negative about your boss (and others) they will hear about it, and remember it! Not a smooth move to build trust.
COMMUNICATE HOW THEY LIKE IT
Everyone has different communication styles, some people like to use 7 words instead of one, and others are to the point. It is important to know your bosses communication style and work to it. Do they like to be sent texts or emailed? My boss is direct and tells it like it is, I like that and work well to it, it can occasionally come across as too direct but this is her style and I respect it.
MOODY DAYS – DON’T DWELL ON THEM
Management level jobs come with great responsibility and stress, respect this of your boss and remember you won’t be privy to some information. Sometimes bosses have angry or moody days, don’t take them to heart and remain positive. Your boss will remember your consistency when they have calmed down and it helps keep up team morale when others get affected by it.
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WILL CHANGE
Remember the more you build a better relationship with your boss the more it will change over time and the more you will be trusted with. With this trust comes your own responsibility of keeping their confidence. Be ready for these evolvements and be thankful of all your hard work when they do come, it will be worth all the effort.
Let me know if you have any other ways to build a better relationship with your boss.
