While we all can’t have a perfect supervisor, we can employ tactics that will help perfect the relationship that matters most when it comes to our careers. Managing up isn’t about brown-nosing per se, it is about worker smarter and setting yourself up for success.
If you want less frustration, stress and anxiety in your work life, try following these steps:
Get to know your boss
- Find out what he or she is ultimately trying to accomplish.
- Figure out what his or her preferred communication style is.
- Identify how he or she sees you helping her achieve set goals.
Meet on a regular basis
- Set up a calendar invite to either sit down and chat or remind you to send regular updates via email.
Keep your focus with an agenda
- Write out your thoughts on a notepad prior to the meeting.
- Give the highlights of any accomplishments, problems that you have run into and solutions that you think can work.
- Ask if you are still on track with his or her expectations.
Understand priorities change
- Stay on top of changing priorities in the office by asking your supervisor what his or her priority for the day is.
- Remember to circle back around and refocus on the original goals he or she set for you once the new priority is accomplished.
Anticipate and solve problems
- Listen to your supervisor’s complaints and offer ideas to ease their pain.
- Identify potential problems in your normal workday and solve them before they occur.
- Keep your supervisor in the loop so that he or she can redirect a solution is need be. He or she will appreciate another pair of eyes on the floor.
Freely offer status reports on your projects
- Keep track of accomplishments throughout the week so that it is easier to point out your progress.
What do you do to “manage up?”