Managing your boss isn't a matter of "apple polishing" or playing politics. It involves working together to generate the best solutions for you, your boss and your company.

Many talented people are stuck in the old paradigm of expecting their boss to manage them. They take a passive, reactive stance, waiting for direction and support. They may complain about a bad boss, but do little to turn things around themselves. They don't know the small but essential steps they can take to establish a productive dialogue. Don't fall into this trap. Don't assume that your boss knows what you need in order to do your job well. Don't assume that your actions are in sync with his or her expectations and priorities. Stay in touch. Communicate. Check things out.

Your Most Critical Working Relationship

Your boss links you to the rest of your company. When your relationship works well, your priorities will be consistent with your company's goals and you'll be able to advance more rapidly in your career.

If you want to influence the outcome of your relationship with your boss, you have to take responsibility. Waiting for your boss's direction can ultimately hurt your chances for advancement.

Action Steps

Here are some action steps you can take RIGHT NOW to build a more productive and rewarding relationship with your boss.

• First Identify Your Boss's Priorities - Your boss's opinion about you is critical. By learning and attending to her priorities and goals, you become more valuable. This doesn't mean that you need to agree with everything your boss says. When properly handled, disagreements can build your credibility and gain you greater support.


• Ask WIIFH? - Before you present your ideas to your boss, ask, "What's in it for him?" Think about how your activities further your boss's goals and priorities. When you can link your activ
  Save Hundreds of Dollars on Your Insurance from the Reptilian Insurance Company
  You have to love the branding of the Gieko Insurance Company Gecko. Brilliant marketing and you have to laugh because it is so ridiculous and funny to listen to a Gecko with an Australian Accent no doubt tell you that you can save hundreds of dollars on your car insurance by switching to Gieko.If you think about the absurdity of it all, I mean here is a talking Gecko on your Television Set telling you that you can; Save Hundreds of Dollars on Your Insurance from the Reptilian Insurance Comp
  ted people are stuck in the old paradigm of expecting their boss to manage them. They take a passive, reactive stance, waiting for direction and support. They may complain about a bad boss, but do little to turn things around themselves. They don't know the small but essential steps they can take to establish a productive dialogue. Don't fall into this trap. Don't assume that your boss knows what you need in order to do your job well. Don't assume that your actions are in sync with his or her expectations and priorities. Stay in touch. Communicate. Check things out.

  Your Most Critical Working Relationship

  Your boss links you to the rest of your company. When your relationship works well, your priorities will be consistent with your company's goals and you'll be able to advance more rapidly in your career.

  If you want to influence the outcome of your relationship with your boss, you have to take responsibility. Waiting for your boss's direction can ultimately hurt your chances for advancement.

  Action Steps

  Here are some action steps you can take RIGHT NOW to build a more productive and rewarding relationship with your boss.

  • First Identify Your Boss's Priorities - Your boss's opinion about you is critical. By learning and attending to her priorities and goals, you become more valuable. This doesn't mean that you need to agree with everything your boss says. When properly handled, disagreements can build your credibility and gain you greater support.
  
  
  • Ask WIIFH? - Before you present your ideas to your boss, ask, "What's in it for him?" Think about how your activities further your boss's goals and priorities. When you can link your activ
    How to Compete in a Commoditized Industry
    What is a commodity? According to the Webster Dictionary the word commodity is defined as a a good or service whose wide availability typically leads to smaller profit margins and diminishes the importance of factors (as brand name) other than price.In a commodity market, many companies compete and none enjoys a competitive advantage. Meaning, that each firm has equal access to such necessities as technologies, capital, clients, and labor. For example, a financial service firm that sell
    . Don't assume that your actions are in sync with his or her expectations and priorities. Stay in touch. Communicate. Check things out.

    Your Most Critical Working Relationship

    Your boss links you to the rest of your company. When your relationship works well, your priorities will be consistent with your company's goals and you'll be able to advance more rapidly in your career.

    If you want to influence the outcome of your relationship with your boss, you have to take responsibility. Waiting for your boss's direction can ultimately hurt your chances for advancement.

    Action Steps

    Here are some action steps you can take RIGHT NOW to build a more productive and rewarding relationship with your boss.

    • First Identify Your Boss's Priorities - Your boss's opinion about you is critical. By learning and attending to her priorities and goals, you become more valuable. This doesn't mean that you need to agree with everything your boss says. When properly handled, disagreements can build your credibility and gain you greater support.
    
    
    • Ask WIIFH? - Before you present your ideas to your boss, ask, "What's in it for him?" Think about how your activities further your boss's goals and priorities. When you can link your activ
      Finding Employment When You Are Disabled
      With growing competency and educational standards, it has become hard to find a job that satisfies both your pocket and desires. And if you are struck with any form of disability at any level, your difficulties increase manifold.Disabilities have been classified into many categories. Broadly, there are minor disabilities and major ones. Depending on the magnitude of your disability, you get the job. With certain disabilities you can find a job in the open job market as well. For instance, t
      e of your relationship with your boss, you have to take responsibility. Waiting for your boss's direction can ultimately hurt your chances for advancement.

      Action Steps

      Here are some action steps you can take RIGHT NOW to build a more productive and rewarding relationship with your boss.

      • First Identify Your Boss's Priorities - Your boss's opinion about you is critical. By learning and attending to her priorities and goals, you become more valuable. This doesn't mean that you need to agree with everything your boss says. When properly handled, disagreements can build your credibility and gain you greater support.
      
      
      • Ask WIIFH? - Before you present your ideas to your boss, ask, "What's in it for him?" Think about how your activities further your boss's goals and priorities. When you can link your activ
        Current Estimate of Economic Impact of Options Backdating
        I had a discussion with Erik Lie about the experiences with Stock Options Backdating (SOBD) and the economic impact of his work. According to Erik, at least 15% of the stock options grants between 1996 to August, 2002,were backdated. Some were within 30 days of the grant date, others more egregious. The number of companies though he said that were going to come clean would be far less than 15%. Here is what we came up with.First the assumptions:1. # of companies that actually are inv
        g to her priorities and goals, you become more valuable. This doesn't mean that you need to agree with everything your boss says. When properly handled, disagreements can build your credibility and gain you greater support.
      
      
      • Ask WIIFH? - Before you present your ideas to your boss, ask, "What's in it for him?" Think about how your activities further your boss's goals and priorities. When you can link your activities to benefits for your boss, you are much more likely to get support for what you need.
      
      
      • Under-Promise and Over-Deliver - Always be conservative in your commitments. There's a natural tendency to want to impress and please others by making big promises. However, no matter how much you actually accomplish, if you don't meet the expectations you set, you can't help but damage your reputation. When you deliver or over-deliver on your promises, you build credibility in the eyes of your superiors.
      
      
      • Don't Focus Solely on Problems - Yes, your boss is busy. But just because you're lucky to get a few moments, doesn't mean you should focus only on difficulties. Make sure your regular meetings include discussions of positive performance.
      
      
      • Offer Solutions - Never take a problem to your boss without offering possible solutions at the same time. This gives you an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving ability. It pays to look for ways to develop your creativity and view problems from different angles.
      
      
      • Learn to Solicit Feedback Effectively - It's important to get regular feedback from your boss. If you don't, you risk being surprised at your performance reviews. However, the way you go about soliciting feedback is important and depends on your boss's personality and style.

      Everything you achieve in your career, you will achieve through relationships with others. And no relationship can have a greater impact on your career than your relationship with your boss.

      Today, relationship strategies rule the world. It's up to you to learn and apply them, to maximize your performance and achieve the results you want.