How to – Manage the Boss Once upon a time (also known as the “old days”), most companies operated from the top down. The boss told you what to do, and you did it. Today, employees don’t often wait for the boss to make the decision. With the pressures and constraints the boss is working with in our current economy, employees need to work together with their boss, not simply for their boss.

What that requires from employees is a skill set that allows them to manage their boss effectively. Communication is an essential part of managing another person. It also entails understanding the world in which they operate, their needs as an individual, their strengths and weaknesses, and the pressures and constraints they deal with on the job.

How can you develop this essential skill set?

• Spend some time observing the boss. What do they do well? What areas are they weak in?
Then: Anticipate the weak areas so that they do not cause you a problem. If they are terrible at meeting deadlines, start asking for what you need earlier than when you actually need it.

• Talk with your boss about goals. Learn about their priorities. Ask them to identify the critical issues in the department.
Then: Ask how you can help the team with those things.

• If your boss (or you) telecommutes or spends a fair amount of time out of the office, you have less time for your relationship and more time for work. Your boss may have a lot of priorities and you are only a small piece of them. Make sure you have a regular time to connect.
Then: Always have an agenda for your regular time together so you are getting information you need to have, not just receiving information.

• Figure out your boss’ style, pace, energy and likes. Are they a morning person? Do they like reports, emails, voice mails or meetings? Are they fast paced or slow and methodical?
Then: Match their energy. Every time you do, you are creating rapport.  2:45 PM •