Influencing Your Boss

Unless you’re really good at Jedi mind tricks, you could probably use some help from time to time to win your boss over to your way of thinking.  Join the Wily Manager guys this week, as they talk about how to influence your boss.

Monday’s Tip:     Do What You Say You Will.  The best way to be credible with anyone is to always do what you say you will.  Credibility is a key component of effectively influencing your boss.

Tuesday’s Tip:     Know What’s Important to Your Boss.  If you can frame up your idea or request in ways that supports what you know is important to your boss, you stand a much better chance of influencing her.

Wednesday’s Tip:     Never Surprise Your Boss.  Always keep your boss up to date on the status and progress of things you are responsible for.  Nobody likes to be surprised, or to be told way too late that things have gone wrong.

Thursday’s Tip:     Proactively Manage the Relationship.  Don’t wait until you need something from your boss to reach out to him/her.  Continually taking the initiative to connect with your boss will make it much easier to influence them when you need to.

Friday’s Tip:     Know How Your Boss Makes Decisions.  Understand how your boss would rate decision making criteria such as risk, financial, or political considerations, as well as what level of detail they are most comfortable with.