Musings from the CU Suite

Editor's Note: I'm at the beach this week.  The following post from January 2013 remains, by far, my most popular. Enjoy!

 

Written by Anthony Demangone

We all have bosses.  I have one.  Even if you're a CEO, you have a boss.  More likely, bosses.  

I've written before how great managers see themselves as servants. They look for ways to make your job easier.  To clear the path.  To knock down walls.  They protect you. Inform you.  Arm you with knowledge.

So, why not return the favor?

Looking at the world through the prism of service is a two-way street.  With that in mind, here are seven things you should stop doing to your boss.  

1. Stop assuming your boss has all the answers.  Most bosses have one or two areas of expertise, such as accounting, compliance, finance, etc.  You were hired to bringsomething to the table. Weave that "something" into the reports and feedback you give your boss.  Making decisions is tough.  When you highlight a problem, include a proposed solution.  A good boss will appreciate it.  
2. Stop assuming your boss remembers what you said, verbatim.  Your boss has more on her plate than you likely think. You may have addressed an issue a few weeks ago, but your boss may need you to walk her through it again...minutes before a board meeting.  When your boss asks for a report or email that you already said, refrain from stating "I sent it to you last week." That doesn't really solve the problem at that moment.  In fact, what you're really saying is...Silly you, I already sent that out.  Did you lose it already?
3. Stop hiding bad news. Sometimes, problems go away on their own.  But that is the exception. If you have a problem, don't sugarcoat it or hide it.  Give a clear overview of the problem, as well as how you'd go about solving it. 
4. Stop assuming your boss knows about a problem.  This is related to the previous point. Organizations are funny things.  A major problem could be festering completely under the radar. Of course my boss must know about this, right?  Maybe, or maybe not.  If you think it is a major problem and your boss isn't doing anything about it, maybe she isn't aware of the issue.
5. Stop giving them what they want. Let me explain. Related to the first bullet point, we often assume out boss has thought of every angle when she hands out an assignment.  That simply isn't the case.  I learned a good lesson from one of the partners I worked for years ago.  He called me into his office and gave me some great critical feedback.  "Anthony, you are great at getting me what I ask for, but not much more.  And I need more.  When I ask for A or B or C on behalf of a client, I may not have thought of other issues.  It is your job to give me things I never thought of asking for.  When I give you an issue, it becomes your issue. I need you to run with it like it is yours.  Because it is." It isn't the only lesson he taught me. 
6. Stop taking things personally. A good boss must deal with the good and the bad.  And if you think you've got no "bad" under your umbrella, think again.  A good boss will highlight mistakes and areas for improvement. The more you can take such feedback in stride, the better working relationship you'll have.  
7. Stop judging your boss in the moment. Your boss is human.  She'll have bad days and good.  Try to look at her with that thought in mind.  She may have just been chewed out by the board chair. Or there may be problems on the home front.  Did your boss just snap at you?  Relax. Personalities are best judged through the years, not minute-by-minute. 

I have to be honest.  While I wrote this post from the point of view of your boss, all of this applies to any of your colleagues.  And I'm guessing it applies to you as well. We'd all like this kind of treatment. These kinds of colleagues.  Wouldn't we?

Well, so would your boss.  

Have a great week, guys.