HBR Guides to Managing Your Career Collection (6 Books) by Harvard Business Review;

Author:Harvard Business Review;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lightning Source Inc. (Tier 2)
Published: 2019-12-10T00:00:00+00:00

Avoid his panic buttons

Form an educated guess about where your boss’s sensitivities lie. If you believe, for example, that he’s intimidated by those above him, think of ways you can alleviate that pressure, such as running reports to better prepare him for meetings with his manager. Or perhaps he’s afraid that people don’t perceive him as essential, and he’s on a tear to prove how much you and others need him. Dispel his fears, advises communication and branding expert Dorie Clark, author of Reinventing You. Show him that you value his guidance. Ask him for feedback. Bring him any news you hear, and take your ideas to him before sharing them with others. As your boss begins to trust that you’ll come to him without prompting, he may loosen his grip.

Once you get to know him better, you’ll gain more insight into the areas he’s touchy about. Looking at what has set him off historically—budget surprises? schedule changes?—will help you find ways of putting him at ease now, says Clark. Then you can assemble a dashboard to keep your boss as informed as he wants to be. Agree on your top priorities and the metrics that will demonstrate progress, and ask him how often he’d like to receive updates.

Your proactive, tailored-to-him system will comfort him. That’s important, since micromanaging often stems from a boss’s insecurity. “I call it ‘snoopervising,’” says Stewart Tubbs, former dean of the College of Business at Eastern Michigan University. Turn the behavior around by preempting it: Tell your boss you want him to feel he can count on you and your work. Frequently report to him on your progress—before he can even think to check up on you. And use language that signals active listening. Tubbs recalls one young man who said “Consider it done” at the end of every meeting with his boss. Another young woman said “Understood” to show that she was engaged and on board. This isn’t about simply placating your boss, notes Tubbs. You have to earn his trust by performing well. These employees consistently delivered, so over time their verbal reassurance meant something and helped their bosses relax.

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