How to impress the boss – You go through life trying to seek approval from your superiors.
You constantly want to please your parents with good grades, impress your coaches on the field and wow your professors in the classroom. And as an adult, you want to win over your boss at work.
It would have been nice if we lived in a world, where our bosses judged us solely by the quality and quantity of our work. However, the reality is that personal impressions are very important. In the workplace, to impress the boss can often make the difference between maintaining your position and getting a promotion. In a down economy, it can even be the deciding factor between keeping your job and getting laid off.
To impress the boss – Building a strong relationship with your boss will give you a better understanding of his or her expectations.
How to impress the boss –
1 – Do your job, and do it well
It may seem obvious, but plenty of employees fail to accomplish the basic tasks that are required of them. If you make a diligent effort and do a good job, your boss will be impressed. If you don’t do great work it will be difficult, if not impossible, to win over your boss, even if you follow all of the remaining suggestions well. Employees who do good work, consistently, efficiently and professionally are a joy to manage, and ultimately allow their manager to focus on critical issues within the organization. The less your boss has to focus on your accomplishing your daily tasks, the more he or she can focus on accomplishing his or hers.
2 – Take an effort to get to know your boss
When you first start working with your boss, you should sit down and have a conversation about how he or she likes to communicate. Ask your boss if he or she likes to correspond by phone, e-mail or in person, find out how often he wants status updates from you, and figure out how much detail he wants in those updates. Great communication is vital for building a strong relationship with your boss.
3 – Assist and support your boss’s professional goals
A primary job of any employee is to make the boss’s life easier. And just like you, your boss has professional goals that he or she is trying to accomplish. Find out what’s on your boss’s plate, and see how you can help to lighten the load.
4 – Be loyal to your boss at all times
Always be a dedicated and honest employee. Never talk about your boss to colleagues in the office, and never go around him or her when you have an issue. If there is an issue, sit down and talk to your boss. Be a respectful and loyal employee, and keep those conversations between the two of you. A lack of trust can severely damage the relationship and your career.
5 – Make your boss’s priorities your priorities
Your job is essentially all about meeting the boss’ priorities the way he or she wants them to be met. Remember that it’s a team effort, with your boss being the lead person. If something isn’t at the top of your list, but your boss expresses that it’s a priority – then it immediately becomes your priority, too. Communicate with your boss regularly to make sure your goals and priorities are in sync.
6 – Take the initiative with projects and assignments
Volunteer to take on new projects—but don’t overload yourself. You want to have enough time and energy to do a great job on everything. One thing that will really impress your boss: Try to think of valuable projects or assignments that you can start and complete without much supervision or guidance from your boss.
7 – Seek solutions to the problems instead of whining
Don’t rely on your boss to fix everything. When a problem arises, don’t just point it out. It’s likely obvious to everyone that something has gone wrong. Instead, offer suggestions, and if appropriate, roll up your sleeves and try to address the problem. When a problem surfaces, never whine about it. No one likes a negative person. That reduces morale and may impede productivity. When adversity comes, and it will, try to avoid complaining and instead seek ways to solve the problem.
8 – Show an interest in an activity your boss is passionate about
Don’t be afraid to tap into your boss’s personal life. No one is all work and no play. Find out what the boss likes to do outside of work and take an interest in the activity. Consider reading the same book she’s started and discuss key points or chapters with your boss, or join her in a round of golf if she loves the links. She’ll appreciate your efforts to share in something they find pleasurable, and you may get some invaluable one-on-one time to display your skills and competencies.
9 – Demonstrate a long-term interest in your organization
Although younger employees rarely remain with the same company for life, there’s nothing stopping you from thinking and acting in the long-term interest of the company. Learn about your key customers and products and figure out how you can support for increased growth. Asking questions to get a better idea of where the company is heading and to figure how you can align your career development and professional goals with the company’s goals is a good idea. Over time, you’ll develop into a valued employee, and hopefully, you’ll acknowledge your boss as a key supporter in your growth and development – which ultimately indicates to others in your organization that your boss is a great developer of talent.
The ball is in your court – These are the ways to impress the boss – Now that you have understood the key aspects as to how to go about it, it is really in your hands to get it rolling and win your boss with your expertise and performance.
