KMPH FOX 26 | Central San Joaquin Valley News SourceWho’s in Charge? Productive Interaction With the Boss

Working is a part of our lives and we all have to do it. Work happens to also come with a boss and how we feel about our work is often a reflection of our relationship with the boss. Getting along with the boss is not always a breeze but is essential for your well being at work.

The most important relationship you have to develop – and you need to develop this relationship in every single job you ever have – is with the person to whom you directly report. Do not be confused, it is your responsibility to nurture and develop this relationship. A manager has the power to hire and fire and is under no obligation to fix his or her ways to suit the attitudes and values of the employees. You on the other hand, have to make an extra effort to work with the boss or be prepared to end up on the street.

You have nothing to lose by over rating a supervisor. For your efforts, you may win over a supporter and show allegiance to someone whom you respect. In contrast, under rating a boss or manager can be rude if he or she is sensitive enough to notice what you are doing and can possibly lead to you being shown the door. From a practical standpoint you should be doing everything possible to help your boss to succeed. The sooner he or she is promoted the sooner another opportunity may be opened for you.

The way you handle the relationships with your boss and coworkers is a subject of concern to everyone in an organization. For example, if higher ups know you are working with a notoriously disagreeable and obnoxious person, and you demonstrate an ability to develop a decent working relationship with that individual, this will reflect positively on you. In the long run, having a reputation of developing good working relationships with difficult people will win you bonus points. The way an employee handles his or her manager and coworkers tells a lot about that person's potential.

As a reminder, the best way to understand your manager or boss is to realize that he or she is human. They have values and core beliefs that drive their behavior along with the usual human weaknesses and strengths that are part of the human experience. Realize too that you are on this individual's team and your boss does not owe you anything. On the contrary, as an employee, you owe your job to the employer and the boss. It is your mission to fit into the manager's working habits, time schedule and plans and goals for the future.

Making it Work

-Communicate with your boss
-Notice how he/she manages their time
-Never surprise them
-Be prepared when meeting with the boss

A big part of being successful in any work setting is being understanding of other people's styles and learning to work with their particular idiosyncrasies.