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.Be ready to answer simple questions.When you havewhat you need, it s time to leave unless the boss wants todiscuss something more with you.Then follow up yourmeeting in writing, unless your boss tells you directly not to.A short memo outlining what was discussed and what actionsyou both agreed to take should do the trick.Also try to determine whether your boss is what man-agement guru Peter Drucker calls a  reader or a  listener.In other words, how does your boss best receive information?Via written or oral presentation? Brief or detailed? The impli-cations, according to Drucker, are clear.If your boss is areader, send a written report first, and follow it up with a face-to-face discussion.If your boss is a listener, brief him or heron the subject or make a presentation, depending on theboss s preference, and then send a written report afterward.130 THE CAREER SURVIVAL GUIDEBeing a rock.Be dependable, and be reliable (it s your turnto be the dog).Show up early and hit your deadlines.Volunteer for work when you ve got the free time.It makesthe day go by faster and earns you a great deal of respect frommanagement.Not taking criticism personally.Nobody likes to be criticized,fairly or not.But when your boss points out that the budgetnumbers you crunched are wrong and takes the time toexplain why, listen.Take notes but don t take it personally.Biting your lips, clenching your fists, and turning the colorof a fire truck are only going to breed resentment all around.Keep an open mind.Most bosses want you to do well.If theydon t, it reflects poorly on them.If they re ham-handed orcruel in their feedback, let them know you have an openmind and want to learn but that you don t respond well topersonal attacks.Always stand up for yourself.If an inse-cure boss thinks that he can get away with badgering you orcutting you to ribbons over a mistake, he ll continue to doso until you speak up.Firmly but politely say,  I don t appre-ciate your hostility.Feel free to provide feedback but keepit professional.Not playing games.Almost nothing will sink you faster withmanagement than playing politics on the job.Criticizinga coworker or passing along second-hand information on acoworker is a big mistake.First, it puts your loyalty to thecompany in question.Remember the line about how looselips sink ships? Second, it takes up time your boss is beingpaid to use elsewhere a fact he will remember.Lastly, aboss will question the seriousness and professionalism of aTHE CAREER SURVIVAL GUIDE 131person who keeps poking his nose into other people s busi-ness.And a person who s perceived as being unprofessionaland not serious can kiss career advancement prospectsgood-bye.Thinking partnership.No, not as an official partner of thefirm at least not yet.Think of your relationship with yourmanager as a partnership in which you each give a little toget a lot.By definition, partnerships involve mutual respectand trust.These are the attributes you really want in a rela-tionship with a person who holds so much influence overyour career.Knowing your boss s quirks.What is your boss s pet peeve?What brings a smile to her face? How does your boss viewthe industry and your company s role in it? Does she like tobe reached by e-mail, phone, memo, or an office visit? Doesshe like to get a detailed report, or will bullet points suffice?Every manager is different.Get to know the differences inyour boss, and accommodate them.Going ahead and pitching ideas.Some bosses are so insecurethat they can t handle someone they perceive to be more intel-ligent than they are.Most bosses aren t like this, however, andwill welcome your ideas as long as they" Are well reasoned" Are solution-oriented to a specific company problem" Make them look good" Have the best interests of the company at heart" Don t add to the workloads of others while not addingto yours132 THE CAREER SURVIVAL GUIDETHE SEVEN TYPES OF BOSSESI don t know if you had fun reading about the 12 types of coworkersin Chapter 6, although I hope that you found it instructive [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]