If you're struggling to manage up, here are a few tips to help you get on your boss's good side.
It’s often said that you manage your boss, not your employees—and it’s 100 percent true. You may be the person who gets most of the credit when things go well and most of the blame when they don’t, but if you want to be in the running for that promotion, you need to start thinking about how to manage your manager. Here are some tips to help get you on your boss’s good side so that you can make yourself indispensable and possibly achieve whatever goals you set out to accomplish with your career at that company.
Don't take Feedback Personally
One of the most important things in any professional situation is feedback, no matter what kind it is. One of the hardest aspects about feedback for managers and employees alike is not getting defensive or taking it personally when negative feedback is delivered by the person in charge. You can be friendly without being "friends". Get to know what motivates each other, what brings each other joy at work. Does your leader love a sense of accomplishment, do they like to celebrate wins, do they want lots of detail, or not to be bothered with the detail?
Be EXPLICIT about what you need from them
When you are successful, they are successful. They need to know what is happening and how they can help.Keep them in the loop - Communicate with them about progress, show them what is going on around their department and make it clear that you have their best interests at heart too. Guide your leader on how they can best support you and they will do the same.
Remember, your leadership/employee relationship is a Partnership, your Leader wants to look good too, get the result by letting them know how best to support you and your leader will support you to get the results that helps guide their career, win/win.
Let me know how it works for you!
