Assume your boss resides in that gray middle ground where most crazy bosses fall. If so, a highly recommended strategy is to make your boss look good as the opportunities arise. That doesn't mean being a teacher's pet or, the most despicable role of all, your boss's informant. It simply means watching your boss's back and making him or her look good whenever possible. Do it subtly, keep a low profile, and you'll be rewarded.
Walls have Ears
Watch what you say about your boss. Even if you have a great working relationship, it's only natural to sound off when you have a complaint or are upset about the way he or she handled a situation. It's human nature to gripe, even about idyllic situations.
But complaining about your boss to a coworker can back fire. Even trusted coworkers have been known to slip and say the wrong thing to the wrong person.
Advice: Never criticize your boss openly at work. If you have to gripe, try confiding in your priest, bartender, or spouse. These confidants won't get you into trouble.
- Making a boss look good means supporting this person so that his or her position is secure. In doing so, you're enhancing your own career prospects. Here are ways to make your boss look good:
Cover for your boss. There'll be times when your boss wants to duck out early for a game of racquetball, to pick up the kids, or simply to beat the rush-hour traffic. Be careful! Making up a lie could backfire for both you and your boss.
Let's say a senior manager stops by your desk at 4:30 p.m. on a Friday and asks for your boss. Saying he is at a meeting or with a client is not recommended. The reason is they're obvious lies that can be verified and cause a great deal of embarrassment.
What should you say to protect your boss? Simply respond, "I don't know." It's a safe lie that won't cause you any grief. Realistically, it's not your responsibility to keep track of your boss s comings and goings.
- Complement your boss's weaknesses. Even super talented bosses have weak areas. No one can do everything perfectly.
It's to your advantage to discover your boss's deficiencies and help him or her in these areas. If done properly and subtly, your boss will willingly unload headaches and frustrating chores. You might say, "John, I noticed you've been The Noble Art of Making Your Boss Look Good busy preparing the monthly sales reports. I'd like to pitch in if you don't mind. I used to take care of that at my last job and I'm familiar with software that can cut the preparation time in half." Such an offer, it is doubtful, your boss will refuse to take it.
- Cover for your boss in a crisis. Let's assume your boss is away on an important business trip when a crisis suddenly erupts at work requiring quick decisions. She can't even be reached by phone. You have two choices: either call in a senior manager or make the decisions yourself. If you call a senior manager, your boss will suddenly look bad. But if you're confident you can take over, I urge you to take this course of action.
Warning: Needless to say, a bad decision will make everyone--you, your boss, and your entire department-look bad. The good news is heroes are born in crisis situations.
- Take grunt work off your boss's hands. When possible, take on grunt work so the boss can concentrate on managerial responsibilities. It does not mean you make this a steady practice. During busy times, even bosses have to do their share of grunt work. But if the opportunity arises, offering to take on some grunt work will allow the boss to concentrate on more critical departmental affairs.
Be your boss's advocate should corporate politics get nasty. Regardless of the company's size, corporate politics are unavoidable. Politics and infighting can get especially nasty when there is corporate upheaval. This is when the power players step forward to stake their claim. You might find that your boss is in the middle of a palace revolt, for example. There has been a takeover, and the new regime may want to fire your boss and give the job to their own person.
You have the luxury of playing it safe and staying out of the fray. But if you've got guts and are willing to put your own job on the line, stick by your boss and help him through the difficult period. If things should turn bad and he's terminated, there is a good chance he'll take you with him wherever he goes.
- There will also be occasions where you'll have an opportunity to defend your boss. For example, it is not uncommon to attend a meeting where your boss is the scapegoat.
George Fuller, author of The Workplace Survival Guide says that situations like these dictate you defend your boss.
It's especially important if a hostile senior manager is rallying the department against him. It doesn't mean getting nasty or testy. Instead, a quiet and assured defense is recommended. When your boss is wrongly accused, you might calmly say, "I find it hard to believe that Molly would do something like that. That's not her style. She's too conscientious and precise. I should know. I've been working with her for 8 years." Well-placed comments like that usually silence dissenters. Fuller suggests adding, ''Why don't I go and ask her right now? I think she ought to have the opportunity to defend herself." That usually ends the discussion.
- Support your boss through good and had times. It's nice knowing you have someone in your corner who supports you. If you were a boss, you would appreciate having this person on your side in good and bad times. It is safe to assume that as long as your boss holds the job your job will be secure. Any boss would consider this kind of worker a priceless gift in the cutthroat corporate world.
Lastly, making your boss look good also involves keeping him or her informed at all times. Advises Fuller, ''Always communicate openly with your boss so that he or she isn't blindsided by not being informed about something." Beyond warning her of potential problems, let her know about accomplishments, news, or anything that makes her department look good to the folks in the corner office.
Ideally, if you respect your boss, making her look good could actually be a labor of love. There's a concept you never considered. Many people start out trying to ingratiate themselves--The Noble Art of Making Your Boss Look Good-- with a difficult boss and actually wind up respecting this person.
The moral to the story is to keep an open mind. It is not suggested that it's possible to actually like all crazy bosses. But it is possible to understand them so you can at least enjoy a civil and productive working relationship. Only under the best of circumstances can you expect honest and productive communication between you and your boss. Believe it or not, it is achievable.
After all, we're talking about human chemistry where logic doesn't always overrule. Remember: Every relationship is unique.
