2079: 7 Ways to Have a Good Relationship With Your Boss by Lisa with Dig to Fly on Better Work Relationships

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[00:01:00] This is Optimal Work Daily. 7 Ways to Have a Good Relationship with Your Boss by Lisa with dig2fly.com. I always knew that having a good relationship with my managers was important. However, I didn't realize how important it was until four years into my career. Looking back on my working life, I could have had many more opportunities for advancement had I worked on building strong relationships with those I reported to.

[00:01:25] You see, just keeping your head down like I did. Staying out of the way and getting your job done is not a relationship. Yes, ultimately you want to complete your job duties, but it's equally important to be seen, especially if you're interested in taking on additional job responsibilities or advancing in the organization. Having a good relationship with your manager is also key to being happy at work. So, let's look at some ways that you can improve your relationship with your manager and increase your work happiness.

[00:01:54] One of the most basic but important things that you can do is to show up for work on time. This action alone can count for a large part of having a good working relationship with not only your manager, but also with your coworkers. Punctuality and dependability show respect and trust. Your manager and your coworkers need to know whether they can count on you.

[00:02:15] 2. Know your manager's communication style. Some bosses passively sit back and listen, while others probe you with one question after another. Some want lots of information, while others only want the essential details. Some bosses relate in a casual, relaxed style, while others are all business. Part of your job is to figure out how your manager operates and relate to him or her accordingly.

[00:02:38] 3. Make your manager look good. Your job is to make your manager look good. Avoid falling into the trap of not wanting to perform a particular task because it does not fit your job description. If you're unhappy with the tasks you're performing, set up a meeting and discuss your concerns with your manager. If changes in your job duties cannot be made, you may need to accept that or look for another place of employment. As a side note, I don't know too many people whose job duties haven't changed over time.

[00:03:06] 4. Know your manager's communication methods. Do you know your boss's favorite communication method? Is it via email, mobile phone, or an organized meeting? 5. Find out what works best for him or her and mostly do that. Limit impromptu visits to his or her office. 6. Unannounced visits can take the focus away from what your boss is currently working on. It wastes time as your boss has to then regroup and shift his focus back to the prior engagement after you've left.

[00:03:33] Carl's note. Like Lisa said earlier, this also depends on your boss's needs. She may like that you take time to talk to her. Just pick the right moments, not when she's all stressed out over a big project. 5. Avoid making excuses. Not only does your manager not care about your excuses, he or she doesn't want to hear them. It is your job to get your tasks done and to meet the deadlines set by him or her. Your manager does not have the time to continue to prod you to do your job, a job that you're being paid for.

[00:04:04] Managers already have enough to deal with without additional work being created for them. 6. Do more than expected. Just doing what is expected of you does not set you apart from other employees. Managers value employees who not only do their jobs, but look for and carry out new and better ways of accomplishing tasks. Be proactive, come up with solutions, and schedule time to present them to your manager. This will reflect wonderfully on you.

[00:04:30] Also, volunteering yourself for projects can be a great way to show your initiative and interest in going above and beyond. 7. Ask for feedback. Asking for feedback is a big one for me. Because my boss travels so much, we don't have too many chances to meet face-to-face. I will often schedule what I call a catch-up meeting to inform him about what I've been working on. I also submit bi-monthly status reports, which I'm happy to do because I want him to know exactly what I'm doing.

[00:04:57] Avoid waiting for your six-month or annual performance appraisal to get feedback on your performance from your manager. Actively solicit it throughout the year. It's through feedback that you will get to know how well of a job your manager thinks you're doing. If your manager thinks you are doing well, there is more of a chance of you keeping your job and getting more job responsibility, raises, and promotions. All relationships take work, including the one that you have with your boss. Communicate often, be respectful, ask questions when you are not clear about what is expected of you,

[00:05:27] and you will be well on your way to working happy. And eight, keep a gratitude journal. A gratitude journal is a great way to work on yourself so it's easier to connect with your boss. If you let your inner voice beat you up inside, it makes it hard to connect with others. Just write what you are grateful for and why every day for 30 days. I suggest something like this. I'm grateful for the fresh water that comes out of my sink every morning because it makes a great cup of coffee.

[00:05:54] I'm lucky to have ten comfortable pairs of shoes for work because they all fit me well. And I appreciate my neighbor because he always smiles and waves when he sees me. The why is important because it helps deepen the gratitude journal experience. Within a few days, you will begin to see an improvement in your outlook. You just listened to the post titled, Seven Ways to Have a Great Relationship with Your Boss, by Lisa with dig2fly.com.

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[00:07:22] Terms and conditions apply. And thank you to Lisa for this guest post on Dig to Fly. And of course, thanks to Carl, the creator of the site, Dig to Fly. A little more about him. He helps entrepreneurs understand their struggles and turn them into stepping stones. And certainly, Carl knows a lot about this because in 2010, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and was then laid off from his job a year later. And while those were obviously difficult situations, he now calls them blessings in disguise.

[00:07:49] And since then, he's stopped doing work that doesn't fit with his passions and instead now focuses on things he truly cares about. He's the author of the book, Bring Gratitude, and has a lot to offer on his site. So please do come by Dig to Fly for a lot more. I have that linked in this episode's description to make it easy for you. And Dig to Fly, by the way, means dig deep to fly high. But that's it for today. I thank you for listening every day and for clicking subscribe or follow in the podcast app of your choice to keep up to date.

[00:08:17] All of that is, of course, how we can keep this show going for you. So have a great rest of your day and I'll be back again with you tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.