What My Boss Wants Me to Know

Well here it is, spelled out, 20 things your boss expects you to know but will probably never
take the time or trouble to tell you. Of course, all bosses have their pet peeves and individual ways of doing things. These can be learned in time by watching and probing. For those first hectic weeks, however this list will ensure that you start off on the right foot and stay there as you settle in.

Here’s the list. Memorize it. Apply it.Certainly you will succeed.

1. Don’t make excuses. With rare exceptions, such as life and death crises,no boss hears or cares why something wasn’t done. Get the job done and do it on time.

2. Don’t aim for perfection. Getting the job done is more important than doing it perfectly, which can count against you if it interferes with your share of the workload. This does not mean you can be careless or sloppy.

3. Doing more than is expected. Doing only what is expected and no more puts you among the mass of expendable workers. Take the initiative and follow up on your last job. Bosses value people who do their work and look for more.

4. Anticipate problems. Ask yourself what could go wrong. When your responsibilities depend on assistance from others, make sure they know and understand what you’re requesting. If the other person doesn’t follow through, you look inept with your explanation about John having promised to take care of it. Make sure that you check up on whether the work has been done. Remember that foul-ups, and unforeseeable failures by others, are a routine part of work life.

5. Handle problems yourself. Solve whatever problems you can and try to anticipate problems before they happen. If you lack the authority to handle the situation, come prepared with suggested solutions when you broach the problem. Even though the boss may dismiss your solutions and use others, you’ll gain a reputation as a problem-solver.

6. Be punctual. No amount of staying late makes up for your not being available when other people need help with their work. Habitual lateness may result in your losing your job.

7. Take being at work seriously. People quickly become aware of who makes an effort to be in regularly and who uses any excuse to take a day off.

8. Don’t be a squeaky wheel. As a daily work style, this approach is self-defeating. Don’t be seen as “here comes a problem,” or “here comes a complaint.”

9. Choose your battles carefully. In deciding when to fight and when not to fight, here are questions to ask yourself: How much difference does this problem really make in my job life? Is it permanent or transitory? Is it worth possibly making an enemy or enemies? And, most importantly, is there a realistic chance of winning? Don’t be among the people who fling themselves into no-win job battles. Ask yourself the questions above before doing something foolish.

10. Don’t hold a grudge. You can’t win them all. Even Babe Ruth, Joe Dimaggio, and Hank Aaron didn’t get hits about 65% of the time. Expect to lose sometimes and you won’t squander your energy, the goodwill of your allies, and the patience of your boss by turning every issue into a personal crusade.

11. Deal with the decision-makers. This is the best way to get action. Dealing with people with less authority is usually a waste of time and effort. Your most elaborate and impressive presentation often gets passed on to the real power in a watereddown version such as “Mark thinks we ought to change this procedure.”

12. Understand boss language. “If it’s not too much trouble” means “Do it…and the sooner the better.” “If I may make a small suggestion…” means “Do it this way.” “I don’t want to rush you,” means “Hurry up.”

13. Learn what others are doing. This is an essential often forgotten. People get caught up doing their individual tasks and forget the big company picture. The course of your career can be altered by keeping the overall picture in mind. What were last year’s triumphs and failures for the organization? What is being planned?hat are the organization’s major goals and fears? How does your job relate with all that is going on? Learn these things and you’ll know how and when to press for your goals.

14. Get along with co-workers. No boss is interested in who is “right” in a co-worker squabble: all he or she knows is that internal battles mean less production. To your boss, when you’re involved, you’re automatically wrong. For this reason, be willing to make concessions for the sake of maintaining the peace. This means sometimes letting others do it their way, even if you know your way is better and you can prove it.

15. Be discreet. Never discuss organization business and people in detail or by name in public places where strangers can overhear. Even in private, be discreet with outsiders about organization politics, problems, and business.

16. Develop a sense of timing. Have the patience to wait for an appropriate occasion or situation. Many factors – the boss’s mood, the success of your last project, the company’s latest quarterly earnings report – can make the difference between a yes and a no, a promotion and a dismissal.

17. Don’t lie. Nothing is so serious that lying won’t make it worse. If you’re caught in a lie, you lose your credibility, which can be harmful to your career.

18. Read industry publications. It’s important to know what is going on in your industry, and trade publications will help keep you informed. This exercise will also demonstrate you are interested in your job, your company, and the importance of
professional trade news.

19. Get to know your peers. Join and be active in one or more professional and trade organizations. Contacts you make and information you glean will aid you on a personal level whenever you change jobs – while improving your status with your current boss.

20. Make no assumptions. When you find yourself thinking or saying, “I never expected such behavior from her/him,” or conversely, “I’m so disappointed. I was sure they would do it this way…” you know you’ve made the mistake of projecting your outlook concerning others’ behavior. That’s a narrow, problem-generating attitude that irritates bosses.

As a result of this enormous pool of skilled workers, career competition is fierce, not only for
baby boomers but for everyone at every age. Under these competitive work place conditions good enough will never succeed. Understanding how to satisfy your superiors by doing things without them having to ask will help propel you above the status of just another expendable worker. By following these guidelines, you will be showing awareness and initiative that, if sustained, will surely be noticed.

Cheers
K.K Arun Krishna