It’s often said that employees don’t leave companies, they leave bosses.
In other words, when employees don’t like their bosses, they’re more likely to leave while those who like or appreciate their bosses are likely to stick around longer.
But what if your boss isn’t exactly awful? What if you’re thinking about leaving because you just can’t seem to get him to give you a chance to succeed, or your personalities are polar opposites – or he just seems to not care what you do?
Before you polish off that resume and start looking for another job, consider that if you fail to get along with this boss, a similar scenario may await you at another company. Your failure to manage this critical relationship can be like a dark cloud that follows you from employer-to-employer.
Those who find success no matter where they work often have learned the important skill of meshing with a boss to form a mutually beneficial relationship. You make the boss look good, and he does the same for you.
Sounds easy when it’s put that way, but it can often be tricky road to navigate. This can be especially true if you don’t have a lot of experience working with different bosses.
So, here are some tips to get you on the right path to a better working relationship with your boss:
Management guru Peter Drucker said bosses are either “listeners” or “readers,” meaning some bosses would rather read information and have time to digest it while others would rather it be told to them. Even if your boss likes time to read information, you still need to follow up sometimes with face time.
A survey by McKinsey & Co. earlier this year found that only 52% of 1,400 C-level executives are spending their time in a way that matched their companies’ strategic priorities. The study revealed that many bosses are finding it tough to find ways to use their time effectively, and feel frustrated about it. If you want to stay on the right side of the boss, helping him to use his time in ways that make him feel like he’s getting the right things accomplished is critical.
Finally, recognize that you and your boss may have different work styles and you cannot let that become a roadblock to forming a mutually beneficial relationship. You both desire success, so take any feedback he offers and use it to hone your style to better mesh with his.
What are some ways you’ve found to be effective in managing your relationship with a boss?