Home Australia I’m a recruitment expert – these five tricks will make you your boss’s favorite person (WITHOUT being a suck- up)

I’m a recruitment expert – these five tricks will make you your boss’s favorite person (WITHOUT being a suck- up)

by Elijah
0 comment
Five simple tricks can keep you on the right side of the boss

There is nothing worse than rude colleagues who fake laugh at the boss’s jokes and agree with every word.

But human resources expert Natasha Kearslake argues that flattery is rarely the best way to earn their respect and boost your career.

You have to make yourself indispensable and take work off the leader’s plate to allow them to focus on strategic goals, she said.

And don’t overlook the power of being eager and showing them you’re on their side. Kearslake highlighted that today only 23 percent of employees say they strongly agree with company leadership, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Five simple tricks can keep you on the right side of the boss

Five simple tricks can keep you on the right side of the boss

Tackle the things no one wants to do

Volunteering for tasks that no one wants to do is a great way to make bosses appreciate you (and avoid the ax if there’s a round of layoffs).

While some of this may involve smaller tasks, the more you increase your workload, the busier and more indispensable you become.

Kearslake said: ‘Free up your boss’s bandwidth by volunteering for time-consuming work such as compiling data, dealing with day-to-day admin or organizing meeting logistics.

‘Offer to handle the monthly sales report compiled from multiple data sources, a tedious task your boss dreads.

‘Volunteer to coordinate the upcoming quarterly planning offsite meeting – booking meeting places, arranging travel, creating agenda.

‘For a new product launch, step up to take on updating marketing materials and website content.

‘When you’re on your way up in your own career, you have to take on more than is normally yours. This is how you also gain experience for your own opportunities.’

She added: ‘Your boss will appreciate being allowed to focus on higher-level strategic priorities rather than getting bogged down in details – which will benefit the business in turn.

Embracing grunt work is a subtle way to prove your indispensability.

‘It’s a great way to show you’re a team player, but be wary of going deep as a data drone. If you can, volunteer for boring tasks and hand them over to a more junior colleague.’

Natasha Kearslake, director of HR consultancy Organic P&O Solutions

Natasha Kearslake, director of HR consultancy Organic P&O Solutions

Natasha Kearslake, director of HR consultancy Organic P&O Solutions

Be ahead of what they need

Anticipate your boss’s needs and focus on which parts of their jobs giving them the most trouble can bring rewards, Kearslake said.

Who does your boss report to?

What problems give them a problem?

Kearslake said: ‘Give an update on the difficult account before they ask for it and you’ll save them that stress.

‘If you know your boss leaves it to the last minute to prepare for the weekly marketing meetings, you can offer to draft presentation slides in advance.

‘Make their lives easier by incorporating the latest campaign metrics and creative concepts. Your boss can then review and finalize them without time pressure.

“Knowing that they had previously been caught off guard by questions about one account during leadership meetings, you could proactively give them a concise status update covering recent challenges, steps taken to avoid issues and next actions. This way they are prepared to address any concerns about this high-stakes client.’

Make a list of problems so they can be solved in one meeting

Bosses tend to have lots of problems with colleagues coming to them with staffing questions, difficult clients, and budget issues.

Always approach with a potential solution (or several), rather than a problem.

And instead of going to them with some problems, you often have to write them down and save them for one meeting.

Kearslake said: ‘Next time you run into a challenging situation, take the time to think of a thoughtful solution.

‘Imagine your boss is juggling personnel issues because one colleague is taking extended leave and another has resigned. There are also budget overruns for the new developer project and a difficult client is threatening to leave.

‘Instead of dumping these problems on your boss, think proactively. For staffing, suggest how hiring a substitute might help, or consider what redistributing workloads among the remaining team might look like.

‘For the budget, explore cost-saving options or renegotiate the scope of work. Present options not solutions and you will learn what is useful over time.

‘With the difficult client, you could suggest a mediation meeting or suggest finding out what you could offer them as an incentive to stick around.’

By offering your boss some thoughtful options, you provide a way out of the problem, making your boss’s life easier in the midst of chaos.

“Even if your solution isn’t perfect, they’ll be relieved that they’ve got a starting point for dealing with the problem.”

Find out what makes THEM look good

Almost everyone’s boss has their own boss.

And like you, they’re desperately trying to impress their own line manager, Kearslake said.

‘Calculate what your boss’s goals are and how they align with the company’s goals. So do everything you can to help them achieve their goals.

‘If their goal is to reduce churn, you can suggest creating a loyalty program and improving support processes. If their priority is to launch a new product line, volunteer for the project and work tirelessly to meet deadlines.

‘By contributing directly to your boss’s goals, you show your value. When review time comes, your boss will be obliged to push for your raise, knowing you helped them succeed.’

Don’t take full credit all the time

Always take the time to show that you appreciate your boss’s input on a project, rather than taking the credit yourself.

It can be tempting to take that moment to bask in glory, but that can be a mistake, Kearslake said.

Kearslake said: ‘Being a manager can be a lonely business. Make yourself the employee who notices that they are doing a good job. Thank them for their guidance when they’ve helped you with a project, rather than solely taking personal credit.’

By sharing the spotlight, you show that you can be approachable and know how to spread recognition when it’s time. It positions you as a loyal lieutenant worth investing in—and they’re more likely to take you under their wing.

‘Giving some appreciation (without sucking it in!) builds goodwill and rapport. It positions you as a loyal lieutenant worth investing in—and they’re more likely to take you under their wing and confide in you.

‘Notice when your boss successfully resolves a challenging customer dispute and thank them.’

You may also like