Gayleen Baxter, Chief Operating Officer of South Africa's leading talent management organisation, Kelly, says "the relationship that you create with the person you report to, whether it be a manager, supervisor or team leader, is not only instrumental in your career progress and success at work but can also affect the way you feel about your job."
Baxter goes on to explain that an employee's most important relationship in the workplace should be with their boss. "The quality of your relationship will most certainly assist in your drive to accomplish your career goals, not withstanding the key role your boss plays in your ability to do your job well and of course visa versa."
As a result the interdependent relationship between your manager and yourself has to be healthy and effective. So what is the first step? Should you butter your boss up on Bosses Day, shower him/her with fancy gifts and endless compliments with a view to creating a new rapport?
Baxter says not, "Insincere gift giving and fake compliments is definitely not the way to go about getting on your boss's 'good' side." However, with that said, Baxter encourages heartfelt acknowledgements on Bosses Day which she says can come in any shape or form from an E-Greeting card to clearing your boss's diary for the day.
Furthermore, Baxter offers the following tips to go about building an effective relationship with your boss, not only on Bosses Day but everyday.
Change Your Attitude & Actions
Often the solution is as simple as making a conscious decision to be more positive, tolerant or kind. However, do not try and change your boss. Your boss is unlikely to change especially if he/she has held a managerial position for a number of years. Instead, focus on trying to understand your boss, how he/she manages and what he/she expects from his/her employees. From there align your working style and attitude to his/her expectations.
Keep Your Word
Be a man/woman of integrity, if you say you will do something - do it. Keep to given deadlines and always keep your manager informed in terms of the projects you are working on and your daily interactions with others. Trust is a vital element in any relationship - don't underestimate the power it has in your relationship with your boss. Never lie or cover up, instead admit mistakes and offer solutions, this will hold you in greater stead for the future as your boss will always know that he/she can trust you.
Ask Your Boss For Feedback
Communication is key to building an effective relationship. If you do not have regular Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) set up, suggest that you meet on a weekly basis to catch-up and to gather feedback. Remember, the key to getting feedback is giving feedback. Your boss cannot give you feedback on something he/she doesn’t know about; therefore you will need to always ensure that he/she is 100% informed.
Value Your Boss's Knowledge
Years of experience, extensive knowledge of the industry, effective work and valuable contributions - these are all things that upper management could have identified when promoting your boss to the position he/she holds today. As a result he/she is likely to possess a large amount of knowledge that could potentially be imparted to you - you just have to be a willing participant in the exchange.
Always Be Politically Correct
Never bad mouth your boss, even if you (and the rest of the organisation) silently think he/she is a tyrant. By not saying anything and remaining completely neutral you will send a clear unspoken message that you are kind, loyal and trustworthy.
"Building an effective relationship with your boss will not happen overnight. In fact, it may take a few weeks, even months. However, once a solid foundation of communication and trust is laid, a valuable relationship will be built, a relationship which will hold you (and your career) in good stead for the future."
