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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

How to Have a Happy Boss

Updated May 2, 2016
Your supervisor can make your life great or make it terrible. I have had bosses that have inspired me and bossed that have stamped out my creativity, drive, and happiness. I've realized that I have significant power over how my boss perceives and supports me in my work. In this post, I will share strategies for having a helping your supervisor be a happy boss so that you can move forward in you work and career more effectively.

Do you want to work for a mad boss or a glad boss? You can influence this based on how you work with her.
What to Assume About Your Boss
Before we get into the strategies for helping your manager be a happy boss, you must assume the following: Your boss is likely very busy. Your boss wants you to succeed. Your boss will give you benefits and opportunities if you do excellent work. If you observe that this is not true, then you may be in a toxic situation (see my posts about toxic coworkers and office zombies). If so, and these strategies are not effective, you may need to move on to a healthier work environment and begin applying the strategies below immediately.

Managing Your Boss Through Action
What do you want your boss and coworkers to think about you? Hard working? Team player? Problem solver? Positive? Good communicator? Ultimately, you really need to BE the kind of employee that gets respect, support, and earns rewards and opportunities. To do this, you must be willing to apply the strategies below to your work.

Here are the strategies:
  1. Take responsibility for your work! The most fundamental you can do is do a great job at your work. Meet deadlines, work hard, and do everything you can to achieve your boss's expectations and the goals you set for yourself.
  2. Build positive relationships! Positive relationships are pleasant and productive. Build these relationships with everyone you work with.  
  3. Don't cause unnecessary problems! Avoid creating extra work for your boss. If there is a problem that needs to be brought to your boss's attention, share the problem and offer to solve the problem. This will go a long way to move your relationship forward.
  4. Pay attention! What bugs your boss? What does she like? Figure out how to avoid irritating your boss.
  5. Make your boss's life easier! Do everything you can to assist them in their work. Remember, your boss is likely overworked, so anything you can do to ease her burden will be welcomed.
  6. Succeed! If you succeed, your boss succeeds. Do everything you can to help the organization achieve its goals, and your boss will be happy with you.  
  7. Make your boss successful! Do what you can to move your boss and her organization forward. She will appreciate it and will think of you when greater opportunities come along.
If you would like to improve your relationship with your boss, start with number 1 and work down the list. You will be astonished by how things can change over time through consistent, positive effort.

What else would you add to the list? 


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