How to Make Your Boss Like You - The Muse

How to Make Your Boss Like You - The MuseHow to Make Your Boss Like You I want to be good at what I do, and I bet you do, too. Though the motivation may differ- a promotion, a raise, the Employee of the Month award, or to simply feel good about yourself- theres no denying that the desire to succeed is a powerful one. But in order to be successful, there are certain people we must work harmoniously with- the most important one being your anfhrer. When it comes to your career, your manager plays a key role in your growth and achievements. And lets face it- if we dont get along with said anfhrer, the role she begins to play is roadblock. And while there is, unfortunately, no secret formula to making your supervisor think youre great- and thus eliminating that barrier- below are some things you can do in every job that should earn you a big thumbs up. 1. Admit When You Make a MistakeNo one is perfect- slip-ups happen from time to time, and thats OK. Acknowledging you messed up will show accountability, help you learn, and prevent your boss from being blindsided when the error surfaces on its own (which it will). 2. Proofread Your EmailsYour performance is a direct representation of your manager. If youre shooting off shoddy emails, it can reflect badly on her and your team. Taking those extra seconds to read your message may also help you from sending a response laced with sass and frustration. 3. Meet Your DeadlinesYour manager, and likely others, are relying on you to finish your tasks in a timely manner. Getting things done by the time youre supposed to will make managing you a breeze. And lets be real- you know you loathe the people who constantly keep you waiting (in work and in life), so dont be one of them. 4. Let Your Boss Know ASAP if Youre Going to Miss a DeadlineWe already established you arent perfect (see number one), so we get it- sometimes a deadline cant be met. No matter who the finger of blame should be pointed at, your manager needs a heads up so she can plan accordingly. 5. Ask Questions When You Have ThemYou cant know it all- no one can (except maybe someone as successful as Adele). If you are unsure of something, its better to ask someone than to do something incorrectly or sit there and avoid it all day. 6. But, Do Try to Figure it Out Before You Reach Out for HelpShowing initiative and problem-solving skills are characteristics that will cause every manager to breathe a sigh of relief. But dont spend forever doing it- know when its time to throw in the towel. My golden rule? If you spend more than 30 minutes trying to find the answer, raise your white flag and let someone come to your rescue. 7. Save Any Grievances You Have for One-on-one MeetingsYou most likely arent going to agree with everything your boss says and does (if you do, lucky you). But instead of calling her out in front of the whole team, address her in private. No one likes to be thrown under the bus, especially in front of the people they manage. And w hen you do meet with her, make sure youre going about your feedback correctly. 8. Bring Solutions, Not ProblemsIf you have a problem, simply complaining about it is leid going to help change it. So when you address your manager in that one-on-one meeting, come to the table with suggestions, or at least the willingness to brainstorm some with her. 9. Acknowledge When Youre at CapacityWhile its tempting to say Yes to everything in an effort to prove youre a hard-working superstar, everyone has a threshold. Once you cross it, the quality of your work (and your work-life balance) will start to diminish. And that doesnt benefit anybody.10. Be a Team PlayerNeither your team nor your company can reach their full potential if you arent playing your part. And that limits your opportunity for success, too. The car cant run if one of the wheels is stuck in the mud. Dont be that wheel. 11. Take Work Off His PlateManaging you and your teammates isnt your boss only job. He has his own tasks, proj ects, and career goals, too. There are likely some items on his to-do list that you can do for him. Take a look at your workload, and if it isnt too heavy, offer to help make his list a little shorter. 12. Treat Her Like a rolleWhats that you say? Your boss is human, too? Yep And though the majority of your interactions involve her ensuring you are on task and have everything you need, its not her only concern in life. (Believe it or not, she probably has a guilty pleasure TV show she binge watches on the weekends, too. Scandal, anyone?) Make a note of personal things she mentions- her dogs name, a book shes currently reading- and ask about them when the time is right.13. Take Initiative to Further Your LearningJust because youre out of school doesnt mean your education has to end. Show you want to better yourself by signing up for a class, attending a workshop, or watching YouTube videos about cool Excel tricks. Want to hit the tanzerei out of the park? Take it one step further and share what you learn with your team. 14. Offer to Mentor or Train a New Team MemberTeaching somebody the ins and outs of a position is tough work. It can even be a job in itself. So when your supervisor hires a new team member, offer to get him or her up to speed. This will allow her to continue focusing on the big picture and dedicating enough time to supervise the whole team.15. Learn From Your MistakesThere arent many things more frustrating than having to tell someone something over and over again. When you make a mistake, take the appropriate steps to prevent yourself from making that same blunder in the future. Write it down, add a task to your process, put a reminder in your calendar- whatever it takes, learning from your slip-ups is a true sign of growth (and also keeps your boss from pulling her hair out). 16. Know When to Stop TalkingYour voice is important and it should be heard. After all, youre a valuable part of the team. But that doesnt mean you should be the team ch atterbox. Allow others to speak up, too, and make sure youre not just speaking because you like the sound of your voice.17. Show Your AppreciationYes, managing you is part of his job. And yes, his paycheck probably benefits because of it. But he is still taking time out of his busy schedule to ensure you have what you need and to provide support when you need it. When he does something you appreciate, say thank you and tell him how he helped you. Better yet? Sing his praises and write a recommendation on LinkedIn. Every supervisor has different management styles, and your boss may value some qualities in his or her employees over others. This will change with each job you have, but if you try to do (at least most of) the things above, youll receive your boss seal of approval. And while this seal may not be obvious (I mean, you arent going to get a trophy for being a good employee), it will show in the ways that count- more responsibility, a positive performance review, opportunities to manage others, and occasionally that big promotion. Photo of man talking to his boss description courtesy of Shutterstock..