Making Things Work with Your Boss

Making Things Work with Your Boss

Assuming that your boss is a man, he may be like one of those characters in the movies who gets red in the face and breathes smoke out of his nostrils when things don’t go his way. Whether you have worked only for a while or have been employed for several years, bosses are never the same. Maybe he’s the quiet brooding boss or maybe she’s the flamboyant lady boss. All the same, here are some key points to help you recognize your boss and tips on how to deal with such personalities.

Who is your Boss?

They are the movers and shakers of your company. This boss knows what he wants and he wants things done his way. You would forgive him though for his natural blunders because he really has a warm personality and a generous heart.

• Make your boss feel important. These personalities may be vain with huge egos. Give them their due by listening to them intently and taking their advice seriously. Compliment them when they have made a good presentation and do this sincerely. These personalities may not always welcome insincere flattery.



• Attend meetings. This personality may want complete attendance during meetings. Well, don’t disappoint him. Be there and give him your full attention.



• Thank him. Don’t forget to send him a thank you note for the little things he has done for you and the department. Be it a recent raise or a loan for your MBA tuition, he deserves a little gratitude for his generosity.

General traits	Things that drive you mad	Things that make you stay
Hot tempered Impulsive Loud Obnoxious Generous Cheerful Sociable Empathic	He needs those reports ASAP. He can create a storm with his temper. This boss may not be easy on the budget. He wants everything first class. He loves last minute notices. He never follows the department’s schedule. He makes his own.	He can be generous to a fault. He gave you an extra bonus last month. He understands your family problems and allows your brother to drop by now and then in the office. He perks up your day with his cheerful demeanor. He gave you the best advice when your boyfriend left you.

2.  Intellectual and talkative.

This boss is a good communicator with truly brilliant ideas that he relays to the team with ease and confidence. He may be quiet sometimes when he wants to think deeply about company issues. He may not appear too confident when he starts asking for everyone else’s opinions. However, he is truly fair and reasonable.

• Listen. Listening is a great way of making the other person feel important. Listen to your boss. He must be full of ideas that you can learn from.



• Be detail-oriented. Take note of the details. Your boss may be a little forgetful about these. Remember those little things like how the client wants the coffee. Your boss will appreciate these little acts of thoughtfulness.



• Talk to him. Your boss may appreciate someone who speaks her mind. Tell your boss what you think in a polite manner when he asks for your opinion. Stay updated about what’s currently going on in your department. Some information may be handy when your boss gets a little absent-minded.

General traits	Things that drive you mad	Things that make you stay
Hot tempered Cold Critical Absent-minded Nervous Analytical Intelligent Detail-oriented Fair	He doesn’t talk too much but expects you to understand what he means. He forgets meetings and comes in late all the time. He doesn’t follow company rules and yet they still think he is brilliant. He never understands why getting married requires you to be away for more than a day.	He doesn’t expect everyone to believe everything he says. He promotes critical thinking. He has brilliant ideas that earn him your respect and the company more money. He doesn’t seem to mind that you are taking your MBA on the side and that made you miss his book launch last weekend. He treats everyone equally. He listens to you in the same manner he listens to the CEO.

3.   Stable, quiet and practical.

He is like a solid wall. He knows what he wants and works hard to stay on top. This boss can get a little stubborn at times. You may not readily know that this boss disapproves of you because of his patience.

• Be on time. Be punctual since your boss may be a perfectionist. He may not accept sloppy work simply so make sure you get things right the first time.



• Give him compliments. This boss may see through flattery very easily. So tone down the flattery and give him compliments only when you mean it.



• Be creative. This boss may stick to the routine and will appreciate some creativity on your part. Start thinking out of the box. A little zest and zing can put a smile on your boss’ face.

General traits	Things that drive you mad	Things that make you stay
Hot tempered Patient Hardworking Stable Predictable Perfectionist Boring Dogmatic Stubborn	She has been returning the drafts you revised for the nth time. She thinks you don’t work hard enough. She wants your desk uncluttered and all your pencils well sharpened and labeled with your department’s logo. She doesn’t believe in being late.	She gets you the bonuses and benefits you deserve. She listens to your concerns and gives you feedback at the earliest time. She values loyalty and hard work. She is a good judge of character. She never tolerates office gossip.

4.  Moody and erratic.

This boss does not follow the rules. He is a little offbeat and a tad crazy. He sometimes shouts, plays the saxophone in the office and gets in the meeting about half an hour late each time.

• Be patient. This boss must be brilliant to get on top and stay there. Try to learn from his ideas and do find time to listen to him. Be patient with your boss and try to ignore his quirks. This will be good for you in the end.



• Meditate. This boss may get on your nerves so do take care of yourself. Learn breathing exercises and learn how to meditate. Clear and relax your mind before going to the office.



• Stay positive. Focus on the task and stay positive. You may feel overwhelmed from time to time but then, there is no such thing as a perfect job. Do your job well and don’t give up easily. Staying positive will definitely get you somewhere.

General traits	Things that drive you mad	Things that make you stay
Dreamy Creative Compassionate Unconventional Good sense of humor Kind	She can be a little touchy with her moods. She takes some things too personally. She dresses in wild colors and can be a little wacky with the clients. She hates being interrupted.	She readily understand why you need a raise after you told her you pay for all your mother’s medical bills each month. She allows piped in music in the office. She asks you how your family is and how your kids are. She brings the entire staff to dine with her often.