We spend fifty percent or more of the time that we are awake at our workplace. We don’t often realize the time that we end up spending with our colleagues and our bosses at our workplace. I have been fortunate to work with some 30 odd bosses during my career. While we don’t realize it often the roles that your direct bosses play influencing you on a variety of things in very much. Without realizing we also pick up several things from each of them and we become a culmination of the various things that we have learned from each of them.
Each of them would be different in their own ways. Some detailed while some work on their gut feels. Some market driven while some would be data centered and so on. The role a boss plays, particularly in the first 10 years of your career, is immense and sets you in the path your career would unfold over the next several decades.
As my two daughters are just starting their careers, I was trying to think of the various ways in which you catch the attention of your boss and the various ways in which he or she would start considering you as a true asset for this team.
The list might not be complete or comprehensive in every sense of it but could certainly start as a reference point for anyone starting their career and in the initial stages of their career journey.
1. Nail your deliverables
Nothing catches attention more than when you finish the tasks or deliver your goals in the way that your boss expected you to do.
2. Be ahead of time
This trait makes you stand out within a crowd and helps you get attention and become the go-to person for several tasks and goals. Please keep in mind that you might not get immediate results for all the extra work that you end up doing for your initiative, but it all adds up during your journey. Always remember that your career is a big marathon spread across 3 to 4 decades based on your appetite for it.
3. Reporting rhythm
It’s important to keep a regular feedback loop with your immediate boss without waiting for him to keep checking on you. The challenge here is that each person has their own expectation like most other things. So, what might look great to you might not be what your boss expects. So, identify the expectation and build in a good routine which works out well. While doing this, I also understand how your boss functions. Some people prefer emails, some chat while some people prefer conversations and some direct face to face conversations. Identify what your boss prefers instead of going by what you like.
4. Be transparent with what you do
Even if not asked, be transparent with the work and schedule that you follow. This helps build confidence and trust with your boss.
5. Find courage to provide ground feedback and challenges
Sometimes because of the way our organizations are structured our organizations end up attempting things which might be quite radical from what is being done presently. This might lead to challenges and heartburn for yourself. Build the courage to take time and discuss these with your bosses. This will also help us understand the bigger picture because of which some of these things are being attempted and helps us also build a capability to look at things with a wider perspective
6. Go the extra mile
There is this interesting story about a teacher sending three students to find out the same details. While one person does what exactly was told and reports back immediately the third one finds more details and information than what the teacher had asked for and reports back at the time the teacher had asked them to. Going that extra mile without being told specifically about it helps not only develop your knowledge and skill level but also with your boss.
7. Let go and don’t get too personal about feedback
We receive hundreds of feedback during the interactions with your superiors. Some of them could be generic and some very specific. Instead of dwelling on them and feeling down about it look for productive ways to develop on the feedback. Once you have built a good understanding with your boss, asking for feedback at the appropriate time. This helps you also develop yourself immensely. And appropriate time is certainly not the appraisal time.
8. Track your own actions
Once a task or goal has been assigned to you, find your own ways to keep track of it at your level. This keeps you prepared when your boss asks for an unscheduled update and helps build better confidence.
9. Look ahead
Perhaps the time when you have maximum heartburn with your boss is during appraisal time particularly if you are looking for a promotion. Looking ahead and identifying the needs for the next level and developing them beforehand helps present your case in a better and more effective manner.
10. Understand focus time.
The time that a person can stay focused on a topic varies from person to person. While some of us can stay focused for hours some others have very short focus time. Understand the time with which your boss is most comfortable with and prepare your updates to get over within the specified time. This helps ensure that the key points that you want to convey get over during this time.
As we navigate our careers, building strong, respectful relationships with our bosses isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have. These connections aren’t about hierarchy but about partnership—aligning on goals, supporting each other’s growth, and creating an environment of trust and collaboration.
Remember, the best working relationships are built on communication, empathy, and mutual respect. So, take that extra step today: schedule that honest conversation, offer that thoughtful solution, or simply express gratitude. Great relationships don’t just happen—they’re cultivated. What’s your go-to strategy for connecting with your boss? Share below—let’s spark a conversation!
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