One of the secrets of an effective executive is that he so organizes matters that he gets his bosses to do the very things which he himself thinks necessary and wants to be done. If an executive believes strongly in something, he/she must present it in such a way that he convinces his boss about it. If he succeeds in getting the boss on his/her side, then the chances are that the task will be more than completed.
- M.K. Rustomji from "Excellence in Management"
There are some more tips to manage your boss effectively:
1. Make sure you understand your boss and his context, to include:
i) his goals and objectives, and the pressures on him. In this, you must be alert for opportunities to question the boss and others around him to test your assumptions. You must constantly be on the lookout for clues in the boss's behavior.
ii) his strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots. In this, you must be sensitive to your boss's work style, his likes and dislikes, and his varying moods.
2. Do not give any surprises to your boss, not even pleasant ones.
3. Find out whether your boss is a listener or a reader. If the latter, send him written reports with set agendas for meetings. If the former, try to arrange discussions either during office hours or over lunch.
4. Find out whether he is a morning or an afternoon boss. If the former, try to arrange your meetings during or after the morning coffee break. If the latter, then immediately after the 40 winks snooze following lunch.
5. Finally, help your boss to manage the way he wants to. The boss is only one-half of the relationship, you are the other half over which you have more direct control, so try to let him have his way.
Overall, it is asking too much from the subordinate who is having enough every day on top of his duties to spend time and energy in managing his relationship with the boss. If forced to do so, he/she may end up by manipulating his/her boss rather than managing him. That's how Birbal must have done with Akbar!!! :D
PRADEEP
- M.K. Rustomji from "Excellence in Management"
There are some more tips to manage your boss effectively:
1. Make sure you understand your boss and his context, to include:
i) his goals and objectives, and the pressures on him. In this, you must be alert for opportunities to question the boss and others around him to test your assumptions. You must constantly be on the lookout for clues in the boss's behavior.
ii) his strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots. In this, you must be sensitive to your boss's work style, his likes and dislikes, and his varying moods.
2. Do not give any surprises to your boss, not even pleasant ones.
3. Find out whether your boss is a listener or a reader. If the latter, send him written reports with set agendas for meetings. If the former, try to arrange discussions either during office hours or over lunch.
4. Find out whether he is a morning or an afternoon boss. If the former, try to arrange your meetings during or after the morning coffee break. If the latter, then immediately after the 40 winks snooze following lunch.
5. Finally, help your boss to manage the way he wants to. The boss is only one-half of the relationship, you are the other half over which you have more direct control, so try to let him have his way.
Overall, it is asking too much from the subordinate who is having enough every day on top of his duties to spend time and energy in managing his relationship with the boss. If forced to do so, he/she may end up by manipulating his/her boss rather than managing him. That's how Birbal must have done with Akbar!!! :D
PRADEEP