How to have a better relationship with your boss

Your boss holds the key to future promotions and your success, so having open communication is crucial. Yet developing a good relationship with your boss is not always easy. Here are some ways to do that:

Learn from your boss. Learn from your boss simply because he or she is your boss. They are in their position for a reason, so when you find yourself asking, “Why him?” look for his strengths, just as you hope he’ll look for yours.

Learn about your boss. Is he more cheerful after a good lunch? Does she like to meet with her employees at the beginning or the end of the day? What does he value in a good employee: numbers, effort, efficiency or a good sense of humor? Learning these tendencies will help when you need to ask a difficult question or when things get stressful.

Go the extra mile. Doing the bare minimum is never going to impress your boss. Try to think one step ahead. Be willing to take on new projects, even if they are outside of your job description. If you can improve processes and think outside the box, your boss will appreciate you saving not only the company’s time, but also his or her time.

Don’t waste time. Not hers, not yours. If you are feeling bored at work, ask how you can help your boss or take an more work.

Don’t wait for praise. It can be discouraging to work hard and feel under-appreciated, but the truth remains that no good deed will go unnoticed (at least in the long run). Your boss isn’t a mind reader, so don’t expect them to be. Be so confident in your work that you don’t need to seek outside praise. And remember, they hired you to be great!

Your goal shouldn’t be to become best friends with your boss. Instead, focus on establishing good communication skills and being your best – the rest will follow.