There’s nothing worse than fawning colleagues who laugh falsely at the boss’s jokes and agree with their every word.
But human resources expert Natasha Kearslake claims that flattery is rarely the best way to earn their respect and bolster your career.
You need to make yourself indispensable and take work off the manager’s plate to allow them to focus on strategic aims, she said.
And don’t overlook the power of being keen and showing them you’re on their side. Kearslake highlighted that today, just 23 percent of employees say they strongly agree with company leadership, according to a recent Gallup poll.
Five simple tricks can keep you on the right side of the boss
Take on the stuff no one wants to do
Volunteering for tasks that no one wants to do is a great way to make bosses appreciate you (and dodge the axe if there is a redundancy round).
While some of this may involve minor tasks, the more you increase your work load, the busier and more indispensable you become.
Kearslake said: ‘Free up your boss’s bandwidth by volunteering for time-consuming work like compiling data, handling mundane admin, or organizing meeting logistics.
‘Offer to handle the monthly sales report compiled from multiple data sources, a tedious task your boss dreads.
‘Volunteer to coordinate the upcoming quarterly planning offsite meeting – booking venues, arranging travel, creating the agenda.
‘For a new product launch, step up to take on updating the marketing materials and website content.
‘When you’re on the way up in your own career you need to be taking on more than is usually yours. That’s how you also gain experience for your own opportunities.’
She added: ‘Your boss will appreciate being allowed to focus on higher-level strategic priorities instead of getting bogged down in minutiae – which will benefit the company in turn.
Embracing grunt work is a subtle way to prove your indispensability.
‘It’s a great way to show that you’re a team player, but be wary of becoming pigeon-holed as a data drone. If you can, volunteer for tedious tasks then delegate them to a more junior colleague.’
Natasha Kearslake, director of HR consultancy Organic P&O Solutions
Stay ahead of what they need
Anticipating your boss’s needs and focusing on what parts of their job cause them the most trouble can yield rewards, said Kearslake.
Who does your boss report to?
What issues are giving them a problem?
Kearslake said: ‘Provide an update on that difficult account before they ask for it, and you’ll save them from that stress.
‘If you know that your boss leaves it to the last minute to prepare for the weekly marketing meetings, you could offer to draft the presentation slides ahead of time.
‘Make their life easier by incorporating the latest campaign metrics and creative concepts. Your boss can then review and finalize them without the time pressure.
‘Knowing that they previously got caught off-guard by questions about one account during leadership meetings, you could proactively provide them with a concise status update covering recent challenges, steps taken to avoid problems, and next actions. This way, they’re prepared to address any concerns surrounding this high-stakes client.’
Build a list of problems so they can be addressed in one meeting
Bosses tend to have plenty of problems with colleagues coming to them with issues relating to staffing, difficult clients and budget concerns.
Always approach with a potential solution (or several), rather than a problem.
And rather than going to them with some issues, often, make a note of them and save them for one meeting.
Kearslake said: ‘ Next time you run into a challenging situation, take the time to think of a thoughtful solution.
‘Imagine your boss is juggling staffing issues due to one colleague taking extended leave and another who has resigned. There are also budget overruns for the new client project, and a difficult client is threatening to leave.
‘Instead of dumping these problems on your boss, think proactively. For staffing, suggest how hiring a temp could help, or consider what redistributing workloads among the remaining team could look like.
‘For the budget, explore cost-saving options or renegotiating the scope of work. Present options not solutions, and you will learn what’s helpful over time.
‘With the difficult client, you could propose a mediation meeting or suggest finding out what you could offer them as an incentive to stay on.’
By offering your boss some thought-out options, you provide a way out of the problem, making your boss’s life easier amid the chaos.
‘Even if your solution isn’t perfect, they will be relieved that they’ve got a starting place for dealing with the issue.’
Find out what makes THEM look good
Nearly everyone’s boss has a boss of their own.
And like you, they’re desperately trying to impress their own line manager, Kearslake said.
‘Work out what your boss’s goals are and how they align with the company’s objectives. Then do everything you can to help them meet their goals.
‘If their goal is reducing customer churn, you could propose creating a loyalty program and improving support processes. If their priority is launching a new product line, volunteer for the project and work tirelessly to meet deadlines.
‘By directly contributing to your boss’s objectives, you show your value. When review time comes, your boss will be duty-bound to advocate for your raise, knowing you helped them succeed.’
Don’t take full credit all the time
Always make time to show you appreciate your boss’s input on a project, rather than taking credit yourself.
It can be tempting to take that moment to bask in glory, but it can be a mistake, said Kearslake.
Kearslake said: ‘Being a leader can be a lonely business. Make yourself the employee who notices that they’re doing a good job. Say thank you for their guidance when they’ve helped you with a project, rather than solely taking personal credit.’
By sharing the spotlight, you show you can be gracious and know how to spread recognition when it’s due. It positions you as a loyal lieutenant worth investing in – and they’re more likely to take you under their wing.
‘Giving some appreciation (without sucking up!) builds goodwill and rapport. It positions you as a loyal lieutenant worth investing in – and they’re more likely to take you under their wing and confide in you.
‘Notice when your boss successfully resolves a challenging client dispute and thank them.’