Can You Manage Your Boss?

Almost everyone (including managers) would love to manage their boss. This spurs the question, “Can I really manage my boss?” Well, no, not really. Sorry. However, while it may be impossible to “physically” manage your boss, there are things you can do to manage the interface between you and your boss.

Managing your one-to-one relationship with your supervisor can bring you multiple benefits.

• Your image as a valued team member will increase.
• Your stature as an effective assistant to your boss will increase.
• Your knowledge base regarding management techniques, issues, and responsibilities will increase as you interact with your boss.
• Positive recognition from others higher up on the organization chart will increase.

This may sound a bit ambitious, but some or all of these excellent results often occur. As you might expect, managing the relationship with your boss is typically successful only if it isn’t obvious that you’re doing so. Should you “manage” a bit too hard and openly, you may create the opposite effect. You might be perceived as pushy and overstepping your boundaries.

Since you can’t force your boss to listen to your ideas, try to make him/her want to hear your suggestions. Here are some tips that may help you achieve a win-win situation for both of you.

• Become a reliable resource for your boss. By reading, observing and asking questions, build your knowledge base on both your job and the job of your team or department. When your boss needs something – information, help, answers – you’ll be ready to volunteer and step up. Over time, your boss will often ask you first as he/she considers you a reliable resource.
  
  
• Frame your suggestions and ideas in tune with your boss’s needs, wishes, and/or frustrations. You want your boss to consider you an effective problem-solver. What are usually the most important and pressing challenges? Those directly concerning your boss. As you become a valuable problem-solver for your boss, you may often become the team, department, and/or company problem-solver.
  
  
• Do your research. Success involves knowing what you’re talking about. Surprised? Probably not. It is almost impossible to effectively manage the relationship with your boss without having credibility. The only way to develop credibility is to have a good knowledge base and be prepared to have the right answers when asked.
  
  
• Present your ideas, answers, and suggestions in a convincing manner. Strive to be convincing, confident, and knowledgeable, but never preachy, superior, or overbearing. Until you build strong credibility, you must be convincing to persuade your boss to listen seriously. Just be careful not to cross the invisible line of “talking down” to your boss or co-workers, as they will then typically “tune you out”.

As you become more comfortable with these suggestions, you should begin to notice that your boss is giving you some newfound respect for your thoughts, ideas and suggestions. As you carefully offer ideas and answers, never crossing that invisible, but real, line in the sand, your perceived value to your boss, your team, and your company should improve, and over time, your boss may become your biggest supporter as you demonstrate your ability to be a consistent, helpful resource in the workplace.

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