What to do when your boss and co-workers don’t share your political beliefs

• 2-minute read •
No one ever said you and your co-workers have to agree on everything in order to peacefully coexist at work. But if you’re experiencing a bit more friction at the office lately—and it’s getting in the way of getting the job done—know that you’re not alone.

In fact, after this year’s polarizing presidential election, some companies even needed to reach out to professional organizations to help manage their employees’ strong, sometimes volatile post-election emotions.

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Feel Like A Boss Before 7:30 A.M. With These Five Habits

• 2-minute read •
Author Lemony Snicket once wrote that how you spend your morning can often tell what kind of day you’re going to have. Are you ready to escape the endless snooze-shower-commute purgatory? Consider adopting these habits to get a sense of accomplishment, all before your morning coffee.

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A Day in Your Boss' Shoes - How it Can Help You Do a Better Job

• 2-minute read •
I'm sure you've asked yourself; "what exactly does my boss do all day?" You may see them in meetings, going out to business lunches or in countless strategy sessions. You may feel your boss does at lot - or perceive all these activities as not relevant to you. In fact, understanding what your boss does can help you perform better at your own job, while appreciating theirs.

Consider the following responsibilities that your boss may take on each day - and see if you aspire to walk in their shoes.

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When it’s OK to tell your boss you’re looking for a new job

It may seem counterintuitive, but you don’t always have to sneak around when you’re job searching.
A full-force job search requires time, effort and a considerable amount of maneuvering when you currently work full time.

You may have to take a sick day, or a phone call during lunch. You may even have to get crafty to account for your sudden absenteeism at your current job. Then, there’s the interview suit situation: Next you’re finding yourself changing in your car or a gas station to return to the office in casual mode.

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How to answer the job interview question: What do you think of your previous boss?

Your answer could show you’re a team player—or a back stabber.
Whether your previous boss was your best friend or your worst enemy, talking about him or her to a prospective employer takes a little tact.

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Tips To Make Sure Your Boss Notices You

To get the boss to notice that you are beyond a number on the employee payroll list requires effort. Here are a few ways to make sure you stand in your supervisor’s line of vision.

1) Make Boss Look Good

One should always make sure the boss looks good in front of his seniors. “If there are presentations that your boss has to show his seniors, then make them error-free,” he says.

2) Speak up at Meetings

Not many people come up with out-of-the-box suggestions during meetings since they are wary of the reaction, so innovative ideas will always get noticed, says Srinivas Nanduri, partner, board & leadership hiring for the Indian arm of executive search firm Maxima Global.

3) Show Team Spirit

A team member will get noticed by the boss if he or she lends a helping hand to others. However, this should only be done when your work is complete.

4) Complete the Loop

A senior should always be kept in the loop of the work done by the employee. A mail marking a copy to the boss is a practice one can adopt, even if an assignment is beyond key result areas.

5) Reach Out for More

Popping into the boss’ cabin and seeing if he or she needs help with a project will project you into the limelight. An employee who takes out time to discuss other company-related projects and future prospects of tasks, shows he or she wants to be a decision-maker.
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Managing your Boss

Unlike a friend, a boss is not someone you can choose. You normally have to accept the person whom you are supposed to report to. Whether you like it or not! It is therefore, important that you get off to a good start in your relationship with your boss. A good boss-subordinate relationship could help you progress in your career as your boss would recommend raises and promotions. On the other hand, a strained relationship could make life miserable for you at work and limit any opportunities for career advancement. 

How does one go about managing a boss? To some people it may come naturally, while for others they may have to rack their brains to figure out what to do and yet feel they end up saying and doing the wrong thing at the wrong time!

In this article, we will attempt to offer some guidelines that could help you build a positive relationship with your boss and be beneficial to your career.

Do your job well with a non-threatening work style
The starting point is obvious and basic- do your job well. Boss management can help only if you are making a good effort at your work. Otherwise it will become a case of covering up your inefficiencies and weaknesses at work behind behavioural niceties which will not have a chance to succeed as they will only be superficial.

And in addition to this, an extremely important point- adopt a non threatening work style. Your great initiative at work will get a tremendous setback if your boss finds you too aggressive or abrasive and begins to feel insecure. Your work style should not communicate to your boss in any way that you believe that you know more than him/her, or that you do not respect his/her superiority and authority. 

Accept responsibilities, take initiative, and prepare for meetings. Make yourself indispensable to your boss without threatening him/her. Let him/her rely on you for assistance in gathering information or any other area where you appear to be relatively more competent, but with the feeling that you are a great help and not a threat.

A boss has power that is derived from two sources- the first being the power/authority that comes along with the position or designation. The second is to do with the individual's personality traits and interaction with others in the organisation. You have to ensure that you give your boss due respect on both counts.

Remember then, be a smart and diligent worker and keep your boss feeling secure!

Understand your boss' working style and work within it
To manage your boss, it would be very useful to find out different aspects of your boss' working style. What makes your boss tick? You could use the following checklist to help you get to know your boss better.

*    What are his/her goals?
*    What does he/she expect from you?
*    Does he/she have any idiosyncrasies e.g. getting the credit for all work done?
*    What is he/she particular about e.g. punctuality?
*    What irritates him/her?
*    When is your boss most approachable?

Getting answers to these questions will help you adapt to your boss' working style and reduce conflict. 
You could try and brand your boss into a specific personality type depending on his/her style of working. This could give you clues on how to work smarter with that type of a boss.
A few boss types you could consider are:

The Feudal Lord
This type of a boss likes to have a large group of supporters, sycophants and yes men. He/she invariably dislikes any opposition to his/her thoughts, ideas and way of doing things. If you agree, you are part of the coterie, otherwise you are an irritant. 

What you could do:
Be careful not to let the quality of your work suffer in your desire to be "accepted". 

The Nit-Pick 
Here, the boss has too much of an eye for detail and ends up nit-picking on and on. Use this format, left align that, reduce this by 5mm, stroke your t's horizontally etc. 
What you could do:
Try and toe the line as much as you can without losing sight of the overall picture of the job at hand.

The Slime
This boss type is as the name suggests- not clean and straightforward, but a great manipulator who could stab you in the back. This boss will not hesitate to pass the blame on to you if anything goes wrong. Neither will you get the credit for a good job done. This boss will spend more time in achieving personal gains.

What you could do:
Watch out, be cautious. Don't be naive. You may learn this after a couple of set-backs. Nevertheless, you need to get along with this boss type as well. Just organise yourself better and learn to "cover up" with well documented facts in case of a problem.

The Slog
Here, it's work, work and more work. This boss type is a confirmed workaholic. He may not pay attention to details but expects a lot of work to be done. 

What you could do:
Work hard too. Meet deadlines. It's a lot better than dealing with the Slime!

Adopt the problem solving approach at work
The next point in boss management relates to handling problems at work. Do not panic when confronted with a crisis. Do not just oppose and disagree with your boss' ideas. Come up with a solution. And justify it with a well thought out plan. This approach could also help in reducing unpleasant scenes and conflicts with your boss. Work could also proceed more smoothly.

Communicate and keep your boss informed
This is essential in ensuring that work gets done on time and your boss is on top of it all in terms of information. The last thing you need is a situation where your boss' boss enquires about the status of a project and your boss was not updated by you, on the current position. Your boss would get caught on the wrong foot and could then pile on to you for not having provided all the information. To avoid these situations, keep your boss updated regularly on the status of work in the pipeline. This will make him/her look good and will let you breathe easy! 
Also clarify priorities and deadlines regularly to ensure that you are working on the right item at a particular time. This will be very helpful in situations where priorities shift over time. 

Be honest and do not compromise on ethics
It always pays to speak the truth. Ask for help where you need it. Admit your mistakes. Give credit where it is due. This will make your boss trust you. He/she will know that you can be relied on to tell the truth in the case of mud-slinging conflicts across departments. Your strength will be that you tell the truth whatever the situation and not just to take the credit or avoid the flak.
Do not compromise on ethics. Never sabotage work to spite your boss.

Do not condemn your boss to others
This is something you really have to watch out for as it is very common to crib about your boss to your colleagues. It often makes you feel better to have someone to complain to, who could agree with you and confirm your negative emotions about your boss. Avoid using this as a way of getting friendly with your colleagues or a way of joining one of the power camps in the organisation. 
Resist the temptation to bad mouth your boss. Try to grin and bear it if you are stuck with a difficult boss till you find a workable solution. Going to the Human Resources department and complaining will not help. It is a misconception that the Human resources department will sort out such problems at work. They are concerned primarily with the needs of the organisation as a whole and not such issues related to specific individual problems. A move such as complaining to HR could probably get back to your boss and will only make matters worse.

Be flexible and not rigid in your style
Let your work style be compromising and flexible. Do not be too rigid as this could put off your boss and communicate that you are too adamant and aggressive instead of being supportive and co-operative. Also, a rigid style could give your boss the impression that you are too competitive and this may make your boss feel insecure which is when problems start!

Record dates and important instructions 
To ensure that you stay on top of your job and avoid getting into trouble when it's time to pass the blame, keep a record of dates and key instructions relating to your work. It may sound like a repository of unnecessary information, but it could help you a great extent in the event of a crisis. Not to say that you should use this to malign your boss, but keep yourself out of such a mess as much as possible.

If you try and follow some of these guidelines, you could end up with a positive relationship with your boss. Remember, the situation is not that bad. You as a subordinate, are also very important to the boss!
And if you find yourself in a terribly hopeless and frustrating relationship with your boss, despite your repeated attempts to improve things- do not lose heart. It's not the end of the world! Just pack up and move on!
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At the Crossroads: When there's a BOSS at Every Turn

Multi-tasking for one boss has given way to multi-reporting to many bosses. Read on to find tried and tested solutions.

REMEMBER the days when life at work used to be simple. You knew exactly what you were supposed to do, and where the buck stopped as far as your work and career was concerned. You were among the vast majority of the corporate workforce who had to report to one boss, and were answerable to nobody else except may be the top guy - who sometimes happened to be the owner of the company. Well, as most of us are realizing, life at work isn't as simple any more.

Today, if you are reporting to just one boss, you are part of a rapidly dwindling breed in the corporate world. And if you aren't, you know how tough it is to juggle multiple bosses and their demands. You're part of many cross-functional teams, all at once. You have multiple reporting relationships to different people, who're not just at different levels, but at different places too. And each one of them wants their work completed first. You find yourself at your wits' end, trying to please everyone.

What can you do to cope? Here are three typical situations and some time-honored and fundamentally sound recipes for dealing with them.

Problem: Your bosses may not know how stretched you are. Given the crazy work pressures each of them would have, it's likely that they are just not aware of the work you're being dumped with by other managers.

Tip: Speak up. It may sound clichéd, but communication is the biggest casualty in such situations. Clarify with each boss the work you are expected to do. Explain what the other bosses want and how you can divide your time optimally between all of them. Mark emails on critical projects to all, so that everyone is in the loop on what your workload is at any given point in time.

Problem: Deciding what, and who, comes first. Pleasing many masters is tricky business. Despite your best intentions, you often find yourself facing the music from one boss for delays while another lauds your efforts at a job well done and delivered on time.

Tip: Ask questions. Often the problems with handling multiple bosses get compounded with lack of clarity on your part. If you're unsure of the scope of an assignment, take time to discuss details and assess the time required to complete the work. That will help you arrive at a more realistic deadline and deliver better results without scrambling from assignment to assignment.

Problem: You get mixed signals from each boss on what the overall strategic direction is, so prioritizing your work becomes difficult. For instance, one boss could define the broad goals and priorities differently from what the other manager tells you. And when it's your immediate boss versus a more senior manager, it spells big trouble.

Tip: This is explosive territory and you could be its biggest casualty. So act quickly and play it smart. Ask for a common meeting with all the concerned managers, and insist that they clarify the organizational objectives and agree on a clear set of responsibilities expected from you. If this sounds difficult, it is. But it's your only bet if you wish to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. If you find the going tough, remember that organizations, by their very nature, are designed to create interpersonal issues. And it's a critical part of your job to deal with these issues at whatever level you are. If it helps, there's also a positive side to working for multiple bosses - a faster learning curve with exposure to multiple areas and geographies, better organizing and management skills, and finally, a better chance that your hard work gets recognized and appreciated.

Managing Your Boss

An Important but most disregarded aspect of leadership is your relationship with the boss, as she/he would determine your success/failure as a leader. Effective managers take time & effort to manage not only their relationships with their subordinates but also those with their bosses. Managing your team as a leader is as important as managing your boss.


The following outlines ways to manage your boss.

Misreading the boss subordinate relationship

Some people behave as if their bosses are not very dependent on them. They fail to see how much the boss needs their help and cooperation to do his/her job effectively. These people refuse to acknowledge that the boss can be severely hurt by their actions and needs cooperation, dependability and honestly from them. A manager’s immediate boss can play a critical role in linking the manager to the rest of the organization, making sure that the manager’s priorities are consistent with organizational needs and in securing the resources the managers needs to perform well.

Yet some managers see themselves as self sufficient, not needing the critical information and resources the boss can supply. It seems that managing a situation of mutual dependence among fallible human beings requires the following:

That you have a good understanding of the other person and yourself especially regarding strengths, weaknesses, work styles and needs.

This information is used to develop and manage a healthy working relationship – one that is compatible with both people’s work styles and assets, is characterized by mutual expectations and meets the most critical needs of the person. This combination is essentially what highly effective managers are found doing.

Understanding the boss

Managing the boss requires that you gain an understanding of the boss and his/ her own context, as well as your own situation.

At a minimum you need to appreciate your boss's goals and pressures as well as his or her strengths and weaknesses. Such as what are the boss's organisational and personal goals and objectives? What are the pressures? What are your boss's long suits and blind spots? What is his preferred style of working? Does s/he like to get information through memos, formal meetings or phone calls? Does s/he thrive on conflict or try to minimise it?

Without this information, a manager is flying blind when dealing with the boss and unnecessary conflicts, misunderstandings and problems are inevitable.

Understanding yourself

The boss is only one half of the relationship. You are the other half, as well as the part you have more direct control over. Developing an effective working relationship requires that you know your own strengths, weaknesses and personal style. One cannot change the basic personality of oneself or one's boss. But one can become more aware of what it is about you that impedes or facilitates working with your boss and take actions to be more effective.

Gaining self-awareness about oneself and acting on it are difficult but not impossible, but this could be managed by reflecting on past experiences.

Although a superior subordinate relationship is one of mutual dependence, it is also one in which the subordinate is typically more dependent on the boss than the other way round.

Counter-dependence (when the subordinate acts on his or her negative feelings, in subtle or nonverbal ways, the boss sometimes does become the enemy) & over-dependence (managers who swallow their own anger and behave in a very compliant fashion when the boss makes what they know is a poor decision) lead managers to hold unrealistic views of what a boss is.

Developing and managing a relationship

With a clear understanding of your boss and yourself, you can usually establish a way of working together that fits both of you, that is characterised by unambiguous mutual expectations.

Compatible work styles

A good working relationship with a boss accommodates differences in work style. Subordinates can adjust their styles in response to their bosses' preferred method of receiving information. Peter Drucker divides bosses into "listeners" and "readers". Some bosses like to get information in a report so that they can study it others like it better when information is presented to them so they can ask questions. So the implications are obvious (says Drucker) if your boss is a listener you brief him/ her in person then follow up with a memo. If your boss is a reader you convert important items in a memo and then discuss them.

Other adjustments can be made according to a boss's decision-making style. Some bosses prefer to be involved in decisions and problems as they arise; these are high involvement managers who like to keep their hands on the pulse of the operations. Usually their needs are best satisfied if you touch base with them on an on going basis. Other bosses prefer to delegate - they do not want to be involved. They expect you to come to them with major problems and inform them about any important changes.

Creating a compatible relationship also involves drawing on each other's strengths and making up for each other's weaknesses.

Mutual expectations

The subordinate who passively assumes that s/he knows what the boss expects is in for trouble. Some superiors spell out their expectations very explicitly but most do not. And though many organisations have systems that provide a basis for communicating expectations these systems never work perfectly. Also between these formal reviews expectations invariably change.

Ultimately the burden falls on the subordinate to find out what the boss's expectations are. They can be both broad (what problems the boss wishes to be briefed about and when) as well as very specific when a particular project should be completed and what kind of information the boss needs in the interim).

If a boss is vague and not explicit it maybe difficult to get information out of him but effective managers find ways to do that. Some managers will draft a detailed memo and follow up with a face-to-face discussion. Others will deal with an inexplicit boss by initiating an ongoing series of informal discussions about "good management" and "our objectives". Still others find useful information more 6indirectly through those who used to work for the boss and through formal planning systems in which the boss makes commitments to his or own superior. Which approach you choose would depend on your understanding of your boss's style.

Developing a workable set of mutual expectations also requires you to communicate your own expectations to the boss, find out if they are realistic and influence the boss to accept the ones that are important to you. Being able to influence the boss to value your expectations can be particularly important if the boss is an over achiever. Such a boss will often set unrealistically high standards that need to be brought into line with reality.

A flow of information

How much information a boss needs about what a subordinate is doing will vary significantly depending on the boss's style, the situation he or she is in and the confidence the boss has in the subordinate. But it is not uncommon for a boss to need more information than the subordinate would naturally supply. Effective managers recognise that they probably underestimate what their bosses need to know and make sure they find ways to keep them informed through processes that fit their styles.

Managing the flow of information upward is particularly difficult if the boss does not like to hear about problems. Nevertheless for the good of the organisation the boss and the subordinate, a superior needs to hear about failures as well as successes. Some subordinates deal with the good-news-only boss by finding indirect ways such as a management information system. Others see to it that potential problems are communicated immediately.

Dependability and honesty

Few things are more disabling to a boss than a subordinate on whom he cannot depend, whose work he cannot trust. No one is intentionally undependable. A commitment to an optimistic delivery date may please a superior in the short term but become a source of displeasure if not honoured. It's difficult for a boss to rely on a subordinate who frequently misses deadlines.

Dishonestly is another issue. It's almost impossible for bosses to work effectively if they cannot rely on a fairly accurate reading from their subordinates. Because it undermines credibility, dishonestly is perhaps the most troubling trait a subordinate can have. Without a basic level of trust a boss feels compelled to check all of a subordinates decisions, which makes it difficult to delegate.

Good use of time and resources

The boss has limited time, energy and influence. Every request a subordinate makes uses some of these resources so it's wise to draw on these resources selectively. Many managers use up their boss's time over relatively trivial issues.

No doubt some subordinates will resent that on top of all their other duties they also need to take time and energy to manage their relationships with their bosses. Such managers fail to realise the importance of this activity and how it can simplify their jobs by eliminating severe problems. Effective managers recognise that this part of their work is legitimate and know the need to establish and manage relationships with everyone on whom they can depend including their boss.

So, Your Boss Is A Jerk

Unless you are among the rarest of the rare there are times when you think your boss is a jerk, a real pain in the rear.

But hold up a minute, you'll be well served to consider the reasons behind his behavior before you throw a fit. Understand, please, that I am not saying these reasons will justify a bad boss, but they do go a long way toward explaining what's going on. When you understand what's with the boss, you'll be better able to cope and to manage the relationship with him and boost your career.

Consider these scenarios:

1. Your boss doesn't know how to be the boss.
It may not be his fault. The workforce is filled with people occupying the position of boss who have had little or no training for the role. They have simply stayed around long enough to climb up the ladder by virtue of seniority.

2. You boss is dumb as a post.
He may be, but it could be that he just has a different way of doing things.

3. Sometimes he's moody, rude and abrupt. You never know what to expect.
There's really no excuse for such behavior, but the reality is you have to deal with it. Consider the possibility that your boss is reporting to someone who is riding him unmercifully to improve results. Or maybe your boss is going through a rough patch in his personal life.

4. Your boss is afraid to make a decision.
He may be scared out of his wits trying to fill a position for which he is not qualified. Maybe he feels that his job is in jeopardy.

5. He always insists that you do it his way.
Consider the probability that he knows more about the situation and the assignment at hand than you do. Maybe you haven't proven that your way is better.

6. He won't share information.
Maybe he is bound by his boss to keep things close to the vest. Or it may be that he doesn't have the information to share. Or it could be that you haven't shown you can handle information properly.

7. He never pays any attention to what you do and never gives you any feedback.
When your boss ignores you, he may be paying you a compliment in his own way. That is, he could be "ignoring" you because he feels confident that you will carry out your responsibilities without his looking over your shoulder.

8. He takes all of the credit. He is jealous when the spotlight shifts away from him.
These are sure signs of an inferiority complex. His ego needs feeding. Does he see you and others as competition for his authority? Are you being greedy for attention?

You no doubt have some relationship problems with your boss. Take a deep breath and get use to it. You'll always have a boss. Boss problems are a constant. Another constant is that relationships you have with your bosses along the path of your career will determine you success.

The basic strategy for building positive relationships with your boss is simple: understand the reasons for his conduct; support him and make him look good; where he is lacking know-how provide it; prove that he can trust you and that you are team player.

Perhaps you can help your boss to get promoted and you will be moved up to take his place.

Never Let Your Boss Be Surprised By Bad News

There is only one thing worse than delivering bad news to your boss. That is not raising the red flag when you know trouble is brewing, because it is a cardinal sin to let your boss be surprised.

No organization escapes the negatives forever. Budgets are not met. Deliveries are late. Machines don't work. People are caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

It is important to your career success to learn how to deliver ill tidings, as well as how to receive them.

There are at least four major things wrong with failing to blow the whistle when stuff hits the fan.

First, ignoring bad stuff won't make it go away. It's bound to surface sooner or later, probably at the worst possible time.

Second, most problems can be fixed, wholly or in part, if addressed soon enough.

Third, left unattended, most problems simply get bigger and more difficult with time.

Fourth, when you fail to report the bad news, you are leaving your boss vulnerable to being blindsided with a problem and the accusation from his boss that he doesn't have control of his organization.

Forget any notion that you may be a hero when you have to carry the problems to your boss, no matter who's at fault. Chances are you will take some bruises; whistleblowers are not popular. In ancient times, kings cut off the heads of messengers who brought bad news.

Five Steps To Defuse The Situation

There is really no easy way to report disappoints and shortfalls; however, you can take five steps to help defuse the situations and ease the pain.

1. Have all of the facts in hand. Report them succinctly; no dodging and ducking.

2. Be patient; let the boss vent his or her anger and frustration.

3. Offer a solution, or at least some way to cut the losses.

4. Don't be defensive. If you are solely to blame, take the heat yourself; don't try to lay it off on others. However, if a group of which you are a part is at fault be sure you report in the "we" mode. Try to depersonalize the matter as much as possible.

5. Be sure to make a practice of reporting good news, too. Avoid being identified as one who always bears ill tidings.

How To Receive Bad News

Just as it is important to quickly and accurately report bad news, it is necessary to know how to handle the storm warnings that are reported to you. These four steps will help.

1. Stay calm and collected when an associate reports bad news to you. If you have a reputation of blowing up when such reports are made, you discourage the flow of information that is necessary to function as a leader.

2. Don't go off half-cocked. Gather all the facts: who, what, when, where, why? Define the locale, type and extent of the problem as quickly as possible. Assess the damage. And double-check your information.

3. Initiate damage control ASAP.

4. Report the situation to your boss in the same fashion as you expect to be reported to. If you have been able to clear up the problem, report it anyway. Get credit for handling the matter without taking up his time.

If you have not been able to eliminate the problem, explain the steps you have already taken to prevent further damage, along with your recommendations for getting rid of the cause of the problem.

Hopefully, you are working for an organization where the messenger gets shot only if he's late with the news.

You've Been Named Boss; Now What?

Betty made a giant leap forward in her career when she landed a new position as Director of Marketing for a major division of a multi-billion dollar corporation. She would go from supervising one employee to managing 27 men and women. Her annual budget would increase dramatically. She would be expected to breathe new life into a lackluster marketing staff that had fallen behind the pace expected in the hard-driving corporation.

She came to me for advice on how to make the most of the opportunity.

Here's the sense of what I told her.

The biggest challenge will be to think in terms of managing a function - getting things done through other people - rather than doing everything yourself. Your job is to manage the assets assigned to you so that your department's goals are reached.

Be realistic about the reception you receive from your staff as well as your peers in management. There will be many signs of cordiality. Accept them graciously, but be aware that beneath the surface, there is another world rife with tension. You will be on trial as the organization takes your measure.

Everyone with whom you work--your boss, staff and the heads of other departments--will ask themselves the central question: What does Betty coming here mean to me?

Key members of your staff will wonder why you were selected for the job instead of them.

Will you be shaking an iron fist or extending a velvet glove?

The Meter Starts Running On Day One

Don't try to remake the world overnight, but keep in mind the meter starts running on day one.

Hasten to establish your competence. Reassure your boss that you will help him achieve his goals. Demonstrate to your staff that you will lead them and protect them in the hierarchy.

Various cliques will try to recruit you to their causes. Keep them at arm's length. Show your peers that while you are a team player, you understand your responsibilities as their boss.

You will have a degree of objectivity in your view of the situation on the first day that will never be possible again because the personalities, the pressures, the gains and losses you will encounter will color your thinking as time goes by.

Write a memo to yourself as to how you see the situation, the task, the pluses and downside factors. Describe how you feel about the people, especially your boss. Spell out your goals, immediate and long term.

Update this document as you go along; use your initial impressions as a benchmark.

Always be aware that your risks will be greater because the scope of your responsibilities is broader and the impact of your decisions is more crucial. Never forget that with fewer people between you and the top, you will have less protective cover.

Be prepared for some surprises. No organization ever looks the same from the inside as it does from the outside.

Always see the activities of your department in the context of the larger mission of the corporation. Communicate this view to your staff. You must have their working support if you are to succeed as a boss.

Ask yourself every day, "How can I do this job so well that the organization will be looking to assign more and more responsibility to me?"

Few Things are More Destructive Than an Insecure Boss

Few things are more destructive to a career than a boss who is insecure. Unfortunately, it is a near certainty that most people will encounter one or more such persons along the way.

Seven Traits Of An Insecure Boss
You will know your boss is suffering from an insecurity complex when he or she is engaging in behavior highlighted by these seven such traits:

1. The boss insists on absolute control over everything in the department. He rules with an iron hand, refusing to delegate any real authority. He doesn't trust anyone. He has few allies. Those allies he does enlist are formed into a tight little clique strongly obligated to his authority and dependent on it. They live an uncertain life on a short leash.

2. The boss constantly interferes in the work of his staff. Second guesses are the order of the day.

3. He constantly defends his position. Every question or hint of criticism is treated as a challenge to his worth and authority. He doubts he has the respect of his associates. Those who exhibit a mind of their own are under constant attack.

4. The insecure boss is most often an absolute perfectionist. He will climb the wall when you make a mistake. But look out. When he fouls up, he will blame it on someone else. He has to be right every time.

5. He will resist making decisions. This means endless studies and return trips to the drawing boards.

6. He will frequently remind you who is boss.

7. He finds it next to impossible to laugh at himself, but he is quick to laugh at others.

Seven Actions You Can Take
There are no certain quick fixes, but there are seven steps that will help mitigate the situation and advance your own interests. Actually, insecure bosses can offer opportunities.

1. Be certain you are not contributing to your superior's low self-esteem. Do everything you can to reassure him of your respect for his position and your commitment to helping him do his job.

2. Shore him up at every opportunity. Learn where he feels most insecure--where his hot buttons are--and make a special effort to be
helpful in these areas.

3. When you have to challenge him, and surely you will from time to time, be certain to do it in a positive way. Don't question his authority. Never challenge or criticize the boss in the presence of others.

4. Never go around your insecure boss to deal directly with his boss without explicit approval. Make sure he realizes that you clearly understand the hierarchical relationships. You don't want to become an endangered species because you are seen as questioning his judgement and appealing to higher authorities.

5. Always be sure he gets more than his fair share of credit for your good work. Stay one step behind him when the limelight shines.

6. Find some of his good points and acknowledge them, publicly as well as privately. Remember, your boss may be a pain in the neck to work with, but surely he must have some redeeming features worthy of compliments.

7. Think of your own insecurities and what helps you deal with them. Apply what you learn from this analysis to dealing with your insecure boss.

How to Become a Great Boss

The great boss stirs the people. The great boss elevates, applauds, and lauds the employees. The great boss makes people believe in themselves and feel special, selected, anointed. The great boss makes people feel good.

Great bosses are memorable. In sixty seconds, this boss created a memory to last over sixty years.

The employee was twenty-four. It was his first real job. He was in the fifth week.

That morning there was a knock on the six- foot-tall glass wall that framed his "office." "Excuse me, Mr. Godfrey, my name is Ralph Hart," said a courtly, exquisitely dressed man in his sixties. "Do you have a minute?"

"Of course," answered the young employee, who recognized the name, but not the face, of the company's legendary Chairman-of-the-Board. "Thank you," said Mr. Hart. "Mr. Godfrey, may I tell you a few things about your company?" To the employee's nod, Mr. Hart continued: "Mr. Godfrey, your company is a first-class company. We have first-class products. We have first-class customers. We have first-class advertising. In fact, sometimes we even fly first-class because the airlines are some of our first-class customers."

Extending his hand to the new employee, Mr. Hart paused, and with eyes riveted on Godfrey, he concluded: "And Mr. Godfrey, we only hire first-class people. Welcome to Heublein."

If you believe that able and motivated people are the key to an enterprise's success, then Mr. Hart just taught you a lot. If you don't believe able and motivated people are the key to an enterprise's success, then stop reading and give this book to someone else.

The Great Boss Simple Success Formula

1. Only hire top-notch, excellent people.
2. Put the right people in the right job. Weed out the wrong people.
3. Tell the people what needs to be done.
4. Tell the people why it is needed.
5. Leave the job up to the people you've chosen to do it.
6. Train the people.
7. Listen to the people.
8. Remove frustration and barriers that fetter the people.
9. Inspect progress.
10. Say "Thank you" publicly and privately.

Companies Do What the Boss Does

People take their cues from the boss. The boss sets the tone and the standards. The boss sets the example. Over time, the department, the office, the store, the workshop, the factory, the company begin to do what the boss does.

If the boss is always late, punctuality becomes a minor obligation. If the boss is always in meetings, everybody is always in meetings. If the boss calls on customers, customers become important. If the boss blows off customer appointments, the salesforce makes fewer sales calls. If the boss is polite, rude people don't last. If the boss accepts mediocrity, mediocrity is what she gets. If the boss is innovative and inventive, the company looks for opportunities. If the boss does everyone's job, the employees will let him. If the boss gives everyone in the organization a World Series ring, then everyone wants to win the World Series. If the boss leads a charge, the good and able employees will be a step behind.

Great bosses understand this phenomenon. Great bosses position the organization to succeed, not with policies, but with posture and presence. If the great boss wants a policy of traveling on Sunday or practice before presentations, he or she travels on Sunday and practices presentations. If the boss doesn't want little snowstorms to make people late to the office, he gets in early the day of the storm and makes the coffee . . . and serves coffee to the stragglers as they arrive.

Some bosses lead purposefully, others innately. Whether intentional or not, the great boss shapes the organization. Because the company does what the boss does, the boss better perform, or the company won't.

Help!! I Hate my Boss!

Please select one of the following. My boss is:

A) A Monster
B) A Cretin
C) Genghis Khan
D) All of the Above

Does this sound familiar? Is this what you face everyday? Do you harbor fantasies of the perfect crime? Do you keep thinking that there must be a way around, up or out of this awful situation, if you could only figure out what it is?

Don't despair. At one time or another we have all faced an impossible boss. Too many people don't realize that "managing up" is not the same thing as "kissing up." Managing your boss is part of your job and a key indicator of your success. In learning how to do this you will master valuable lessons about management, human behavior and how not to perform under pressure. These are skills that can be turned around into survival, and even success, strategies.

How did a nice person like you get stuck in a place like this?

Most people don't willingly sign up to work for a difficult boss. There are a few intrepid souls who think they are "up to the challenge", but the sane among us run in the opposite direction.

Sometimes you accept a new job, and your future boss seems really, really nice. Then the first deadline approaches and he or she turns into a screaming banshee. Sometimes your current boss leaves and senior management selects their replacement. Sometimes you are transferred into a great new position, but a terrible boss manages the department. And sometimes you have had a perfectly fine relationship with your boss and something goes sour, creating a downward spiral that you just can't seem to climb out of.

Pick a Boss, Any Boss…

Let's see if we can peel away the layers of horror here. Exactly what type of problem boss do you have? Here is a far from exhaustive list of some killer-type bosses. Do you recognize yours?

The Patronizing B_____D and The Arrogant B___H

Sister and brother, this type of boss believes that intimidation, sarcasm and fear are key motivators. They seem to derive special pleasure from publicly humiliating subordinates and appear impossible to please.

The Idiot

Yes, he or she really is that stupid. No matter how many times you shake your head in wonder, they do continue to amaze you, don't they? Pick the absolutely dumbest strategy, and they implement it. You wonder how they survive; yet they continue to be promoted over and over again. Why? Because they don't intimidate their own boss and are perfectly content never to rock the boat.

The Politician

Manipulative and self-motivated to the core, this boss will tell everyone exactly what he or she thinks they want to hear. Weeks, months, years later, you realize that they have been lying all along. In fact, they are so good at selling their own version of events that what is common business sense gets lost or forgotten. Their concern is never what's right for the business, but what's right for themselves.

The Serpent

This is the one who says: "I tried to talk them out of it" or "I really fought for you", smiling as they ooze insincerity. A masterful blend of snake oil salesman and actor, she or he is verbally unctuous and inherently untrustworthy. Think of Eve's temptress in the Garden and you get the picture.

The Workaholic

This person has no life. They live to work. Ergo, work is life. They assume that the family photo on the desk is enough quality time with the spouse and kids. Unrealistic deadlines, calls at home, frequent business travel on weekends - these are some of their favorite techniques. Most staff members end up working excessive and late hours without recognition or reward. In fact, the more work they accept, the more they are given, but the money and title never seem to follow.

Hope for the Sick at Heart

We all know it isn't easy to live with a tough boss. You've probably tried a lot of different things - and most of them haven't worked. Have you sighed in resignation, accepting this burden as punishment for sins committed in a former life?

There are ways to make your relationship with your boss if not more successful, than at least more pleasant. Here are some strategies to think through, and some ideas you can begin testing tomorrow.

• Don't push your boss's buttons. What are their pet peeves? What sets them off? Write them all down, and for each pressure point, put an antidote that is the opposite behavior. Now tape this list it in a private but easily accessible place and reread it every day. Be sure to consider the "little" as well as the big things. For example, you may not think it's a big deal to arrive five minutes late to a meeting, but to your boss this frequent tardiness indicates sloppiness, poor planning and a lack of respect for him or her. They may view it as your failure to manage your time, or think that you doubt the meeting's importance. Remember, this is all about your boss's sensitivities, not yours.
  
• Know their favorite communication methods. Do they prefer to communicate via email, phone or memorandum? Do they utilize one medium for themselves but another for their staff? Find out and stick to it! Your adherence to their choice will make them more comfortable, and will make them believe that you are more like them, and that therefore you must be very, very smart.
  
• Know their communication style. Are they formal or informal? Don't be exactly like them; just use it to point yourself in a general direction. For example, if someone uses vulgar language it doesn't mean that you will endear yourself to him or her if you start swearing all the time. But acting shocked won't help you either. Take it as a sign of informality, or perhaps a tactic to embarrass you, and don't react. The same thing is true for their style of dress. Don't mimic it - just use it as working knowledge of who and what they are.
  
• Scrutinize the Successful. I know it hurts, but do it. Turn your gaze to colleagues who are successful with this boss. Who gets promoted? What traits or behaviors do they use in front of your boss? Forget your own attitude, be it envy or disgust, and try to be objective. It doesn't mean that you have to be that way, but it will provide clues as to what your boss really likes. You can decide later if you can emulate your colleagues or not - right now we are still collecting data.
  
• Keep it to Yourself. Button your lip until you are blue in the face, but do not grumble about your boss in the office. It may seem like common sense, but you would be amazed by how many people publicly bad-mouth their boss. Not only do the walls have ears, but they have tentacles and stereo speakers, too. The first nasty remark may not get back to your boss, but the third or fourth one will.
  
• Forget about Human Resources. If you haven't yet learned this painful lesson, please etch these words into your soul: HR exists to serve the needs of the corporation, not the individual employee. If you bring a complaint, no matter how legitimate, to HR they will take it straight to your boss and it will hurt you. Trust me on this - no matter how friendly they seem HR is not your friend.
  
• Document, document, and document. Keep every memo; write down every offensive comment, every broken promise, and every out-of-control outburst. Be sure to include dates and participants, and enough detail to make yourself believable. Then keep this in a very safe place. Because you never know.
  
• Have an Exit Strategy. Think about it, write it down and file it away - you will feel better. This should be a living document, including a current resume, a list of headhunters in your field and the names of three or four good references. If you decide, or it's decided for you, to leave, then the first thing you do is pull out this document. And boy, will you feel better when you do.
  
• Manage your Boss. Be it this job or the next; realize that you need a strategy on how to manage your boss. Be cognizant of when you give them information, what that information is and how you deliver it. Know your boss's weaknesses and objectives, as well as the pressure they are under to perform their job. Be aware of your own working style, and plan how you can balance the two.

"You can't change other people. You can only change yourself"
- H. H. Getter

Mind you, even if you do all of these wonderful things, your boss may still be a jerk. But they'll be a more manageable jerk. Or maybe you'll discover that he or she is not so bad after all. Perhaps they've been misrepresented by jealous colleagues, or have a reputation that you assumed, falsely, were true.

But either way, they'll be easier to live with. And all the people you've been complaining to for so long - they'll think that you're easier to live with, too!

Getting a new boss

There are few things that generate as much anxiety in the workplace as the introduction of a new boss. Some people fear widespread changes whilst others welcome it like a breath of fresh air.

A new manager can be the catalyst that reignites your career and provide you with the opportunity to make an impression, prove your worth to the company and potentially alter the course of your career.

So, if you want to get on the good side of a new boss, take the initiative and stand out from your colleagues.

Create your second first impression
Psychologists have deliberated for years the question of how quickly the human mind makes a first impression of something or someone. Some argue that it takes two minutes whereas others suggest it takes as little as two seconds. Whoever you believe, the point is that first impressions are important.

Getting a new boss means that you have a new opportunity to set a positive first impression. Whether you got on well with your old boss or not, that person has now gone and it’s up to you to establish a rapport with a new boss.

Dressing successfully (or unsuccessfully) can make or break a good first impression.
Shakespeare once said: “Apparel oft proclaims the man”. Your image is the outer reflection of your inner-self allowing people to judge and make assumptions of your personality and attitudes.

Don’t choose sides
Quite often when an external hire has been made, there will be someone in the office who feels that they should have been promoted to the role instead. Sometimes they will react negatively and resort to doing the bare minimum of work or bide their time to wait for the ‘new guy’ to trip up.

New bosses inevitably want to put their brand and distinctly different work styles on the department. Not everyone survives the change. But, don’t get sucked into backbiting about the new boss simply because a colleague is aggrieved at having missed out on the promotion – you don’t want to get off on the wrong foot do you?

Adopt a neutral stance on the matter. Be prepared to help your new boss if required but don’t appear over-eager.

Show enthusiasm
It will probably be a few weeks for your new boss to become acclimatised to their new working environment but, before you rush by their office and offer your services to carry out tasks that will make their life much easier - stop and wait.

In the first few weeks, your boss will become plagued with people offering to do this and that for them, possibly to their annoyance. If you come across as being too eager you could become nothing more than an irritant to your boss and even risk alienating yourself from your fellow colleagues

Volunteer for the small tasks
Let your boss know who you are and what you do. But, be mindful that volunteering for a big task may arouse the suspicion of your boss and colleagues, after all no-one wants to be seen as the office brown-nose.

Don’t be afraid to expand your current role and take on extra responsibility. Rather, opt to do the everyday tasks that nobody else wants or offer to assist with such as explaining how to operate the finicky photocopier that needs a jab and a push to work.

Don’t be a know-it-all
When a new manager enters the office, they will want to make quick but helpful changes to the workplace. They will often set aside time for private meetings with each member of their staff so that the can gauge an understanding of what their employees like or dislike and how the department can be changed for the better.

Use this as an opportunity for you to act as a key resource to help them understand how the business operates. Of course, you want to be seen as a valuable asset but, be mindful not to pretend that you are an expert on things when you are not.

And, be honest and admit if you don’t have the answer being asked of you and say “I will find out for you” or “I suggest that you ask so and so” – you will earn their respect as someone who isn’t simply a ‘yes man’.

Managing your Boss

Unlike a friend, a boss is not someone you can choose. You normally have to accept the person whom you are supposed to report to. Whether you like it or not! It is therefore, important that you get off to a good start in your relationship with your boss. A good boss-subordinate relationship could help you progress in your career as your boss would recommend raises and promotions. On the other hand, a strained relationship could make life miserable for you at work and limit any opportunities for career advancement.

How does one go about managing a boss? To some people it may come naturally, while for others they may have to rack their brains to figure out what to do and yet feel they end up saying and doing the wrong thing at the wrong time!

In this article, we will attempt to offer some guidelines that could help you build a positive relationship with your boss and be beneficial to your career.

Do your job well with a non-threatening work style
The starting point is obvious and basic- do your job well. Boss management can help only if you are making a good effort at your work. Otherwise it will become a case of covering up your inefficiencies and weaknesses at work behind behavioural niceties which will not have a chance to succeed as they will only be superficial.

And in addition to this, an extremely important point- adopt a non threatening work style. Your great initiative at work will get a tremendous setback if your boss finds you too aggressive or abrasive and begins to feel insecure. Your work style should not communicate to your boss in any way that you believe that you know more than him/her, or that you do not respect his/her superiority and authority.

Accept responsibilities, take initiative, and prepare for meetings. Make yourself indispensable to your boss without threatening him/her. Let him/her rely on you for assistance in gathering information or any other area where you appear to be relatively more competent, but with the feeling that you are a great help and not a threat.

A boss has power that is derived from two sources- the first being the power/authority that comes along with the position or designation. The second is to do with the individual's personality traits and interaction with others in the organisation. You have to ensure that you give your boss due respect on both counts.

Remember then, be a smart and diligent worker and keep your boss feeling secure!

Understand your boss' working style and work within it
To manage your boss, it would be very useful to find out different aspects of your boss' working style. What makes your boss tick? You could use the following checklist to help you get to know your boss better.

* What are his/her goals?
* What does he/she expect from you?
* Does he/she have any idiosyncrasies e.g. getting the credit for all work done?
* What is he/she particular about e.g. punctuality?
* What irritates him/her?
* When is your boss most approachable?


Getting answers to these questions will help you adapt to your boss' working style and reduce conflict.

You could try and brand your boss into a specific personality type depending on his/her style of working. This could give you clues on how to work smarter with that type of a boss.
A few boss types you could consider are:

The Feudal Lord
This type of a boss likes to have a large group of supporters, sycophants and yes men. He/she invariably dislikes any opposition to his/her thoughts, ideas and way of doing things. If you agree, you are part of the coterie, otherwise you are an irritant.

What you could do:
Be careful not to let the quality of your work suffer in your desire to be "accepted".

The Nit-Pick
Here, the boss has too much of an eye for detail and ends up nit-picking on and on. Use this format, left align that, reduce this by 5mm, stroke your t's horizontally etc.
What you could do:
Try and toe the line as much as you can without losing sight of the overall picture of the job at hand.

The Slime
This boss type is as the name suggests- not clean and straightforward, but a great manipulator who could stab you in the back. This boss will not hesitate to pass the blame on to you if anything goes wrong. Neither will you get the credit for a good job done. This boss will spend more time in achieving personal gains.

What you could do:
Watch out, be cautious. Don't be naive. You may learn this after a couple of set-backs. Nevertheless, you need to get along with this boss type as well. Just organise yourself better and learn to "cover up" with well documented facts in case of a problem.

The Slog
Here, it's work, work and more work. This boss type is a confirmed workaholic. He may not pay attention to details but expects a lot of work to be done.

What you could do:
Work hard too. Meet deadlines. It's a lot better than dealing with the Slime!

Adopt the problem solving approach at work
The next point in boss management relates to handling problems at work. Do not panic when confronted with a crisis. Do not just oppose and disagree with your boss' ideas. Come up with a solution. And justify it with a well thought out plan. This approach could also help in reducing unpleasant scenes and conflicts with your boss. Work could also proceed more smoothly.

Communicate and keep your boss informed
This is essential in ensuring that work gets done on time and your boss is on top of it all in terms of information. The last thing you need is a situation where your boss' boss enquires about the status of a project and your boss was not updated by you, on the current position. Your boss would get caught on the wrong foot and could then pile on to you for not having provided all the information. To avoid these situations, keep your boss updated regularly on the status of work in the pipeline. This will make him/her look good and will let you breathe easy!
Also clarify priorities and deadlines regularly to ensure that you are working on the right item at a particular time. This will be very helpful in situations where priorities shift over time.

Be honest and do not compromise on ethics
It always pays to speak the truth. Ask for help where you need it. Admit your mistakes. Give credit where it is due. This will make your boss trust you. He/she will know that you can be relied on to tell the truth in the case of mud-slinging conflicts across departments. Your strength will be that you tell the truth whatever the situation and not just to take the credit or avoid the flak.
Do not compromise on ethics. Never sabotage work to spite your boss.


Do not condemn your boss to others
This is something you really have to watch out for as it is very common to crib about your boss to your colleagues. It often makes you feel better to have someone to complain to, who could agree with you and confirm your negative emotions about your boss. Avoid using this as a way of getting friendly with your colleagues or a way of joining one of the power camps in the organisation.
Resist the temptation to bad mouth your boss. Try to grin and bear it if you are stuck with a difficult boss till you find a workable solution. Going to the Human Resources department and complaining will not help. It is a misconception that the Human resources department will sort out such problems at work. They are concerned primarily with the needs of the organisation as a whole and not such issues related to specific individual problems. A move such as complaining to HR could probably get back to your boss and will only make matters worse.

Be flexible and not rigid in your style
Let your work style be compromising and flexible. Do not be too rigid as this could put off your boss and communicate that you are too adamant and aggressive instead of being supportive and co-operative. Also, a rigid style could give your boss the impression that you are too competitive and this may make your boss feel insecure which is when problems start!

Record dates and important instructions
To ensure that you stay on top of your job and avoid getting into trouble when it's time to pass the blame, keep a record of dates and key instructions relating to your work. It may sound like a repository of unnecessary information, but it could help you a great extent in the event of a crisis. Not to say that you should use this to malign your boss, but keep yourself out of such a mess as much as possible.

If you try and follow some of these guidelines, you could end up with a positive relationship with your boss. Remember, the situation is not that bad. You as a subordinate, are also very important to the boss!
And if you find yourself in a terribly hopeless and frustrating relationship with your boss, despite your repeated attempts to improve things- do not lose heart. It's not the end of the world! Just pack up and move on!