I read the Investors Business Daily newspaper from cover to cover every day. I like to read the section where they review the 10 Secrets to Success. Today's section was given the title, "Learn to Like the Boss." I'm not sure I agree with all of it, only due to specifics of the nursing industry (where nurse leaders simply do not have as much control over matters of compensation.) I recognize there are sacrifices I am making in terms of getting management positions at one specific hospital, but I don't care to leave the bedside anyway, and they simply can not beat my care because my care is simply excellent. But there is a section where it talks about following the heirarchy, and warns that members of that heirarchy will work against anyone threatening that hierarchy because they "have to." Hadn't considered that, really.
Learn to LIke the Boss
from www.investors.com
Learn To Like The Bossone problem: You hate your boss.
If you want to be successful, stop it.
“Your boss is the gatekeeper of your career,” said Ramon Greenwood. “Unless you are able to manage a positive connection with him at each step in your career you will fall short of your potential. Not getting along with your boss is a killer factor in building a career.”
He should know. Greenwood has been an employee, a boss and an entrepreneur. “I’ve seen all sides,” he said.
Greenwood has been a senior vice president at American Express, vice president of Consolidated Foods Corp. (now Sara Lee Corp.) and a senior official in President Ford’s administration. Armed with all the experience and knowledge it takes to survive and thrive at some of the nation’s top companies as well as the federal government, Greenwood now works as a career counselor and consultant to a variety of businesses (CommonSenseAtWork.com).
He says there are many folks out there with excellent credentials and work ethics but who don’t understand that without a good relationship with your boss, you’ll never achieve your potential.
“Knowing how to get it done separates the winners from losers,” Greenwood says. “Like it or not, your boss is your portal to the rest of the organization” — more responsibility, more money and a promotion.
To better manage your relationship with your boss, Greenwood says you should:
Accept authority.
Everyone has a boss. Managers report to department heads. Vice presidents are responsible to executive vice presidents. Presidents report to chairmen of the board, who report to directors, who report to shareholders.
“Even if you strike out on your own and become a consultant, you have a boss,” Greenwood said. “The client is your boss.” So don’t bother running from one firm to another unless you commit to learning to get along with superiors.
Respect the hierarchy.
Acknowledge and respect your boss and his experience. You don’t have to like the idea of having a boss. Just recognize reality. Never go around your boss, Greenwood says. Work with and through him. You might believe your boss to be incompetent and a roadblock to all the great things you can do for the business. But you put yourself in extreme danger if you circumvent your boss. The hierarchy will close ranks to protect itself from such violations. It must do so to survive.
Make your boss shine.
If you work hard to make your boss get a promotion, opportunities will open up for you, too. Be sure to point out to superiors the good job your boss is doing. When your boss makes mistakes — everyone does — do everything you can to help him to get back on track.
Be professional.
Keep your connections with your boss on a strictly professional basis. Never rely on friendship with your boss. The key is to develop a relationship of mutual dependency, Greenwood says: You depend on him for support and endorsement. He depends on you for the hard work and talent that help him succeed.
Adelia Cellini Linecker
You might also find this article interesting:
How to Sell Your Boss
Posted by: Bill Brown | December 23, 2004 at 07:17 AM