14.11 Basic Rules of Boss Management
Exhibit 1 summarizes the few, simple rules you should keep in mind when juggling the boss along with the other sharp objects with which you come in contact.
Exhibit 1: Rules of Boss Management
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Understand your boss's tendencies or skill level in the critical areas of management style, problem solving, political style, procrastination, conflict avoidance, risk aversion, ability to grasp theory and details, and communications skills. -
Engage the boss as required while staying mindful of these strengths and weaknesses. -
Never let the boss get blind-sided. Give him or her a heads up even if it makes you or your team look bad. -
It is better to ask forgiveness than permission. Use this wisely, but understand that if you go to the boss every time a decision has to be made, what value are you providing? -
"Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies." At certain times, silence is as effective as engaging your supervisor in an issue. This has no hard and fast rules, other than your best guess once you have seen your supervisor react under pressure and have been able to gauge the relative thickness of his political skin. -
Offer solutions, not problems. When you escalate an issue to the boss, present it in terms of impact, with at least two possible solutions, even if one is unrealistic. Again, presenting problems without solutions is failing to add value to your role. |
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