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Managing The Boss: The Basics

Managing The Boss: The Basics
by Catherine Iste

Managing up is a necessary skill at any level. It can be challenging, but by default, the way we act will influence how the person above us treats us.

As such, like with any management approach, it is best to be informed, proactive and purposeful. Here are a few fundamental skills and actions necessary to successfully manage the boss. 

Who are you?

The most important first step when we are refining our approach to managing up is to define our approach, personality, and boundaries. We need to be really clear — at least for now — as to what is important to us.

While it may change, understanding our own limits will help us anticipate our responses. In other words, if we can distinguish between our pet peeves and our deal breakers, we are in a better position to know when and how hard to push back with our boss.

For example, my colleague does not schedule meetings Friday mornings and is usually slow to start because she is in a wine club that meets Thursday nights. She knows that if her boss does something that normally is just an annoyance on a Friday morning, the odds her she will be disproportionately annoyed by her boss’s action.

As such, she is sure to schedule her response to her boss later in the day, if possible, and if not, she will take extra precautions to ensure she does not blow the issue out of proportion.

Read full article  on MultiBriefs.