Managing Upward: Managing Your Boss

“If you do not manage your boss, she cannot manage you!”—Anonymous

Managing your boss appears like an irony! Why? Most assume that it is the boss’s responsibility to manage you. Yet, Dilbert is the most widely syndicated cartoon strip that almost anyone who has worked in the corporate jungle can relate to in how they deal with their boss.

Why, then, is managing your boss such an important part of a job? One reason is that today’s role the boss plays is very different from the one they played during our parents’ time. With telecommuting and departments dispersed around the world your boss’s responsibilities are now very different as are their priorities. Under these conditions it is easy to fall victim to the “Out of sight, out of mind” syndrome!

If you feel that you are maundering through your job, getting no where, especially with your own boss, then you must become aware of how to manage your boss. Worse yet, if your boss is undermining your efforts and you are at the risk of losing your job, not because of what you did or did not do, but because of what your boss did, then you must awaken to a new reality.

Before taking for granted what your boss is going to do for you, or if you feel unappreciated, frustrated, dumped on, or set up for a fall, ask yourself these questions:

• What is my goal with this particular job or assignment?
• What is my superiors’ agenda and what is their style of managing?
• How will they know the real contribution I have made in advancing their agenda?
• What must I do to work within their framework so that I can be viewed as a valuable contributor without compromising my values?
• What can I do to rise above my colleagues to make a positive impression on my chain of command?
• If I stay and commit myself to the current job, what can I do to help myself and to help my boss to succeed?
• If I decided to move on how can I prevent getting into a similar situation—or even worse—with my next boss?
• Can I change my boss? (Ha! No one has changed anybody)

The following list is provided to help those who wonder about the process of managing their boss:

1. Have an initial meeting with your boss as you come on board (or if you get a new boss midstream).
2. If you have not had such a meeting to begin with, it is never too late to have one.
3. In this meeting clearly lay out roles, responsibilities, expectations, measurements, rewards, and deliverable. Boss’s role and responsibilities must also be made clear in this meeting.
4. If you are in a matrix organization with two (or more) bosses, make sure that you keep them in the loop. Have individual meetings regularly. If you do not agree with the way things are going with the project boss (the one to whom you are assigned) meet with your functional boss (the one who writes your reviews and manages your salary) and get their support.
5. Agree on a scheduled reporting structure and the method of reporting. A weekly summary of progress and issues can be sent to the boss by email every Friday afternoon. If any items need attention or help, they must be at the top of this short message that is more in a bulletized form than as a long narrative. Also, it should be presented as an exception report than as a status report.
6. Under promise and over deliver. Move from managing expectations to managing excellence.
7. Periodically meet (or you can also have a cyber meeting) with your boss and ask for their ongoing agenda and how they are driving it. Ask how you can help in their success and show how you have been helping them already. Do not assume that because you work for them that they already know this.
8. It is not unusual that your boss will act so busy that there is never time to get together. In that case send an email and calendar a meeting. If the boss ignores it call and leave a voice mail and, failing a response, write a follow-up note. Check with your peers to see if they are having a similar experience. If the boss continues to ignore, inform your boss that you are going to get in touch with HR and the boss’s boss. Wait a few days and then “meet” with them to show them your notes. Better yet, let the HR representative take care of this. By choosing to take this route, however, you have compromised your relationship with your boss.
9. Without getting personally close to the boss, develop a relationship of trust and respect. The ideal relationship is when the boss comes to you asking for help in shepherding their agenda or just comes and chats with you when they are having a difficult day.
10. Every quarter schedule to have a substantial meeting (1-2 hours) with your boss. Going out to lunch is a good way to conduct such a meeting. Treat your boss to a nice lunch.
11. If you get a chance to spontaneously compliment your boss for something that they have done well, bring it in a meeting with their superiors and comment on that achievement. Nothing is more gratifying to a boss than when a subordinate conveys to their superiors their great work! Such occasions can quickly change your boss’s view of your relationship with them in a very positive way. Just make sure that the compliment is genuine.
12. Figure out your manager’s blind spots or weaknesses. Collaborate with them to neutralize those weaknesses so that your boss looks good to their chain of command.
13. If you do not agree with your boss’s stand or views on an issue, do not contradict them in a public meeting, especially when superiors are present. Even if they are not, someone in the meeting will rat on you to elevate themselves.
14. Volunteer to take on jobs that your boss avoids.
15. Request a formal acknowledgement of your contribution from those who benefited from it, especially when they volunteered that information as a compliment. Ask those who can influence your chain of command with inputs about you that can set the tone of your future course of work at the employer. Asking for something in writing to be sent to your chain of command is never a bad idea. It is how you ask that sets the tone of how people respond to it. Also, acknowledging someone, whom you want, in turn, to acknowledge you, can work wonders, both ways.
16. Engage in “straight talk” with those who are undermining your efforts to make things better.
17. Keep your boss informed about what you know is happening around your own circle of awareness. Do not assume that your boss knows what you know. Although gossiping or spreading rumors should not be what you have to resort to, if there is some trouble brewing that affects your boss, keeping your eyes open and then communicating what is happening to your boss can only help your relationship.
18. Focus on the organization and place its agenda ahead of yours or your boss’s. Always keep the big picture in mind in every action you take.
19. If you are expecting a child or are pregnant wait until a few months before the child is due to announce it to your boss. If possible do this in person.
20. If a task or the job itself does not work out, do not personalize the failure. May be changing the place of work is your best option. Find ways to put the best face on what you have done and honestly discuss with your boss what might be done better. Move on with a positive outlook, without blaming anyone, especially your boss.
21. If your boss sees you as a threat because, perhaps, you are an overachiever or that you have more to offer, slow down and see if you can collaborate with others, including your boss, to improve the situation. If this does not work move on.
22. If your boss is like Dilbert’s they are riddled with insecurities and self doubts. Do not openly challenge them or threaten them, this makes their insecurities worse. Because of the power they hold they can make you pay for your criticism.
23. Always show respect for your manager’s position, if not for them personally. Remember, they are the manager and hold the power of employment over you!
24. In today’s world, every employee is expected to do more. Always be on the look out for learning something new and increasing your value to your boss and the organization.
25. Avoid going around your boss to their superiors. If you must or that if it happens because the superiors initiate it, make sure that your boss is immediately apprised of this and the circumstances. When this happens do not get ahead of yourself by undermining your boss.
26. Find out what your boss does for fun, charity, or hobby. If you can connect that way, it is always a plus.
27. It is a good idea to explore your boss’s Type by directly asking and then looking at how you can manage your interaction. For example if your boss is ISTP and you, an ENTJ, then make sure that when you present an idea, go with data (she is an “S”), do not force a decision (she is a “P” and you a “J”). Such strategies generally work well to increase your “compatibility.”
28. Remember: An ounce of loyalty is worth more than a pound of cleverness!
29. Act positively and smile often. People often wonder about those who smile and it annoys other enough to make it worth your while.
30. If all of this sounds basic, it is. But, how many do not follow this simple prescription and suddenly get surprised by a “Notice of Concern” or a sudden and unexpected termination or a layoff?