YOU & Your BOSS

Despite endless jokes and situation comedies to the contrary, bosses are people, too. As Shakespeare might have said, prick them and they bleed the same as everyone else. In fact, whatever name he or she goes by (boss, supervisor, employer, manager, middle manager, executive etc.), there is not a boss in the world who doesn't have a boss. The CEO must report to the board of directors, the board of directors to the shareholders. Even the highest-flying entrepreneur must answer to his or her lenders and the market

What separates you from your boss is power and responsibility. He or she has the power to direct and demand your performance; your boss is then also responsible for your performance to everyone above him or her in the chain of command. 3 Key Steps to COMPATIBILITY..... Over a lifetime of work, most of us will experience good bosses, mediocre bosses, and a few truly atrocious bosses. In every case, three essential steps will set the stage for getting the relationship off on the right foot:

1. Understand that your boss is a human being.

2. Accept the reality that your supervisor is in charge.

3. Do your job, and do it on time.

When you take a new job or a new position within your company, your primary challenge is to master your own duties. But to be fully effective, you must also uncover your new supervisor's modus operandi. Different bosses may have widely differing ways of operating: Your old boss required written project

reports delivered punctually at the end of each week; your new boss prefers verbal updates and only occasionally asks for written reports.

Your old boss got a kick out of the rubber elf collection on your desk; you new boss frowns on the cluttered cubicle. When you step into a new job, be open to your new boss's ideas. Stay flexible and remember that there's no absolute right way to run an office.

You can quickly pick up on the most obvious characteristics of your new boss's style by observing your coworkers and their interactions with him/her. Don't be hesitant about asking questions, because your job description will tell you only what is expected of you - not how to do it. If the boss isn't available, it's fine to talk with fellow workers about office procedures and culture. Just be sure that your questions don't carry any implied criticisms. In particular, avoid the "At my last job, the boss would never tolerate..." approach.