If you’re employed, odds are you have a boss to answer to. This can be a fine or strained experience depending on how your relationship works, what their personality is like, and what kind of boss they’re trying to be. Leaders of firms rarely understand just how much impact on the workplace culture they can have, simply by showing up and being present they will be making a difference for better or worse.
Of course, it’s true that you probably don’t wish to become best friends with your boss because that can somewhat suppress the ability for them to lead you, plus they may lean on you for favors that you’re not entirely happy accepting. That said, it’s also important to consider just how you can build a better relationship with your boss if necessary, so that you may be able to get the benefits of being looked at as a solid professional while potentially avoiding some of the less ideal aspects of their personality, which we all have.
Without further ado, let’s consider three steps you can take in that direction:
Communicate Candidly But With Brevity
It’s important to nail just how you communicate with your boss if you hope for the relationship to improve. Generally, employers like people who speak effectively, and always have something to offer if a problem is presented. You don’t have to be the smartest and best person in the room, just someone who listens and focuses on performing. This can help you do more than any false compliment, or any inauthentic attempt at socializing, even if this is required to be polite now and again. However, respect is a two way street, and it’s important to remember that. This is especially important during those moments where the relationship might be terse, such as when you need professional personal injury attorneys to press a claim of negligience.
Remember Key Dates
It’s a good idea to remember key dates important to your workplace and your boss. If you have an important meeting, show up to it, and on time. If you’ve suggested that you’d be available for overtime at the weekend, don’t drop out at the last minute. If it’s their birthday, don’t be afraid to bring them a small gift. Remembering small, appreciated dates like this can help you show you care, you’re interested in affability, but you’re not necessarily going to fawn over anyone to achieve that. This builds respect.
Underpromise & Overdeliver
Underpromising and overdelivering is the best trick an employee can ever hope to offer. You don’t have to be effusive in promising the world to your boss. Instead, accept the tasks laid out to you, and go further beyond your prescribed necessity from time to time. Not only does this help your boss calibrate their expectations accordingly, but they’ll regularly see that you’re pleasantly surprising them, even if that’s in little ways. This works wonders, and is much more effective than the alternative. Sometimes, the best thing you can be as an employee is a convenience, someone who thinks ahead and doesn’t need to be told. But that doesn’t mean you have to promise everything in advance. This will improve your relationship with your boss like almost nothing else.
With this advice, we hope you can cultivate a much better relationship with your boss.
