Managing Your Boss and Your Managers

A compatible relationship with your superior is essential to being effective in your job position

Based on: John J. Gabarro, John P.Kotter

Prologue

Good managers recognize that a relationship with a boss involves mutual dependence and that, if it is not managed well, they cannot be effective in their jobs. They also recognize that the boss-subordinate relationship is not like the one between a parent and a child, in that the burden for managing the relationship should not and cannot fall entirely on the boss.

Bosses are only human; their wisdom and maturity are not always greater than their subordinates’. Effective managers see managing the relationship with the boss as part of their job. As a result, they take time and energy to develop a relationship that is consonant with both persons’ styles and assets and that meets the most critical needs of each

1. Misreading the boss-subordinate relationship

People often dismiss stories like one we just related as being merely cases of personality conflict. Because two people can on occasion be psychologically or temperamentally incapable of working together, this can be an apt description. But more often, we have found, a personality conflict is only a part of the problem-sometimes a very small part

2. Understanding the boss and yourself

Managing your boss requires that you gain an understanding of both the boss and his context as well as your own situation and needs. All managers do this to some degree, but many are not thorough enough

• The Boss’s world
• Goals and pressures
• Strengths, weaknesses and work style
• You and your needs
• Your own style
• Dependence on authority figures

Developing and managing the relationship

With a clear understanding of both your boss and yourself, you can-usually-establish a way of working together that fits both of you, that is characterized by unambiguous mutual expectations, and that helps both of you to be more productive and effective. We have already outlined a few things such a relationship consists of, which are itemized in the Exhibit, and here are a few more

  3.      Whose job is it?

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 realize the importance of this activity and how it can simplify their jobs by eliminating potentially severe problems. Effective managers recognize that this part of their work is legitimate. Seeing themselves as ultimately responsible for what they achieve in an organization, they know they need to establish and manage relationships with everyone on whom they are dependent, and that includes the boss

·         Discuss and understand what is specifically required from you as an individual by your boss and when in the month he needs this to facilitate his reporting function etc and that way you will be seen as a positive colleague;

·         Understand your role in the company structure in terms of information that you require from others and be forceful and ensure you receive it on time or you will not be able to do your job effectively in support of your boss and he will unfortunately come to the conclusion that you are not doing your job and that he/her cannot allow to continue;

·         Identify where your boss is weak (no one is an island and knows everything) and strive to fill this gap for him/her and that will give you an “advantage” in his/her eyes when reorganize/redundancies raise their head as that is an inevitable part of business in a turbulent economic world;

·         If there appears to be a continuing recurring problem in the company, volunteer to look into solving the impediment and be seen to go the extra mile for the company and that way you will raise your profile which will stand you in good stead the next time a promoted position needs to be filled;

·         Do  not get sucked into the office “rumour mill” where you voice your criticism concerning other more senior colleagues with others as you never know if this gets back to them and that can put your continuance with the company at severe risk;

·         Try to impress your colleagues within other departments in your organisation and go out of your way to resolve their perceived obstacles / communication problems and again this will raise your company profile above that of others at your level which will significantly increase your chances of promotion to higher grade level with accompanying increase in salary / bonus levels.

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