Welcome to the inaugural post of my new blogsite!
You can look forward to a series of posts designed to help you HAVE a better boss and BE a better boss. That is the purpose of this new site and content.
Is it really important to build a good relationship with your boss? Here’s what author Shawn Achor says about that relationship in his thought-provoking book, The Happiness Advantage: “…the boss/employee relationship…is the single most important social bond you can cultivate at work. Studies have found that the strength of the bond between manager and employee is the prime predictor of both daily productivity and the length of time people stay at their jobs.”
Achor cites a Gallup study estimating that U.S. companies lose $360 billion each year from lost productivity due to employees who have a poor relationship with their immediate supervisor. He also quotes the results of a study at MIT that found that employees with a strong tie to their manager brought in more money than those with only weak ties. An even more expansive Gallup study showed that employees who agreed with the statement, “My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person” were found to be more productive, contributed more to profits, and were significantly more likely to stay with their company long-term.
Simply put, your boss is the gatekeeper to your success in your organization! So it’s a good idea to build as positive a relationship with your boss as you possibly can. You don’t have to be unctuous or servile do this (in fact, that approach will actually accomplish the opposite result). But you DO have to cultivate the relationship carefully, intentionally, and strategically.
I will help you to do that!
You should know: many of these posts will parallel and expand the BossByte videos I will be posting on YouTube, with links from and to my websites. Become one of my subscribers on YouTube and you will be able to keep up with the videos I am posting. Sign up for the RSS feed and you will be notified every time a new blog is posted.
Here’s the first BossByte video (take a quick look… it’s SHORT… and let me know what you think about it!)
This first post is about the first BossByte, which advises subordinates to accept assignments from their boss with a positive, “I’ll take care of that right away” response. Bosses LOVE that! One of the easiest ways to earn your boss’s favor is to take assignments without complaining, whining, back-stepping, offering excuses, or presenting resistance. Just smile… and DO IT!
But… what happens when you are faced with an unrealistic workload? How do you commjunicate that to your boss without sounding or looking like a loser or lagger? Stay tuned for the next BossByte video and blogpost–I’ll tell you EXACTLY what to do!
In the meantime…
I’d love to hear from YOU. What do you think about this business of building a good working relationship with your boss? Do you agree? Do you have any questions about it? Are you wondering how to go about it? Or are you facing some daunting challenges in trying to do it effectively?
I’d love to have you weigh in on my blog. Let’s get a dialog going. You may discover that you are not alone in your struggles with your boss!
Hi Jim,
This is such a great idea! I know as a newish boss to 8 staff I’ve struggled with being a boss. I’ve received very little to no support by managers around my development and have been told that I will learn as I work in the role. I was at a breaking point (many times) not knowing what to ask, what to do and how to be a good leader. But I found hope…the wisdom and insight that I have gained by reading your emails have really given me direction and support. I’ve even started sharing them with my team (just as I will with your blog).
I for one really appreciate what you have been able to give me what others have not. My hope is that I can use everything you teach/ offer to be a better leader for my team and within my future career.
Thank-you so much and I can’t wait for your next post!
Laura,
Brisbane, Australia