Wednesday, January 9, 2019

A Better Way To Reach Goals: The One Word Resolution


Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Be Your Best Despite Your Boss

I recently read an article about the importance of a supportive boss.  Having a supportive boss can transform your workplace experience.  It can make a difference in productivity as well as engagement.  When you are engaged you have a sense of belonging, connection and value in an organization. I have had neglectful bosses who ignored me and kept secrets.  I have also had bosses who were quite friendly and kind, but didn't handle managerial responsibilities like performance issues,  clear goals, and distribution of work.  Neither of these is an ideal type of manager to have.  Nevertheless, its possible to have an engaged, productive and satisfying work experience without a supportive  boss.  If you find yourself in a situation where the boss doesn't provide direction; is inconsistent; or even non-responsive, here are some things you can do to manage yourself.

Find a mentor.
A mentor will be a good sounding board and source of advice.  This should be someone who doesn't have a stake in your career (like your boss does).  They should be in a position at a higher level than yours. And, your mentor might work in your organization or another one; they might even be retired.  Your mentor is a person with whom you can be candid and who in return will be candid with you.  A mentor can provide valuable advice, recommendations and resources.  Your mentor could help you learn how to best navigate a tumultuous environment and share their experiences with you.

Find a workplace peer.
You should have at least one close relationship within your organization.  This should be an experienced, trustworthy individual with whom you can discuss your concerns.  Because they have institution knowledge, they'll have a good understanding of the organization and be able to give you relevant perspective.  If you are trying to figure out how to resolve a conflict or solve a problem, this colleague could be a valuable resource. When you're seeking that promotion, your peer might be able to share valuable insights and/or warnings.  If nothing else, your colleague in the workplace can be a good sounding board when you need to vent. 

Join a club.
In every field there are industry-specific or even role-specific associations you can join.  In these organizations you have the opportunity to build relationships with others who do the same thing you do for a living.  They may have already experienced some of the situations you are experiencing.  Since association members are generally from many different companies, they can provide a wide variety of perspectives.  This kind of association could also keep you abreast of best practices, trends, and other pertinent developments in your field.  Staying in the know can help you be more effective at work, work smarter, or prepare you for your next promotion/role.

Ask.
There is an old saying that closed mouths don't get feed.  If you don't verbalize what you want and need you probably won't get it.  Schedule periodic meetings with your boss to discuss progress on assignments, obstacles you're facing and concerns you have.   Ask specifically for things you need to be successful, such as resources, training, information, or help solving a problem.  You may not already get what you request.  But, you have a better chance of getting your needs met, if you express what those needs are.

As you prepare for success in this new year, don't let your un-supportive boss be your excuse for not achieving what you want to achieve.  Don't give him/her all the power in your career.  Take proactive steps and take control of your professional life.