You may be a good manager – a good performer who has come in for high praise from the boss. You may respect your boss for what he has done for you and for the progress of the business – I’m talking about good bosses who have delivered results the right way.
You may be working with a cunning colleague who might have a hidden agenda and conspire to upset your boss. You sometimes trust the dirty manager’s proposal to do something as a team that may sound pure from outside but ugly from inside.
The boss is a part of your team. So when team activities are planned you should have the common courtesy to invite your boss and ensure his participation if you believe in team work to be the best recipe for success – especially, if it’s to celebrate success and happiness which your boss has ensured both for you and your business.
As much as you expect your boss to be a good leader with a warm heart, one who does everything possible to develop you – take care of your future thorough job security, improved business performance to ensure an ever growing good compensation package, do not forget that your boss has a heart and he expects your gratitude in return.
Like you want your boss to understand you, you need to understand your Boss too. You can’t win someone’s heart without knowing that person.
You must understand the goals of your boss, the gratitude he deserves, his aspirations, likes and dislikes, mood swings and other softer attributes. You have an obligation as a manager, executive and employee to know him well. It’s not so easy, yet not so difficult a task.
You don’t need to sit and interview your boss or go to an astrologer to discover things. If you have been long enough in the company working with your boss, your power of observation itself would give you the knowledge you need to know the lighter side of your boss. Your boss plays a significant role in your life because of the considerable amount of time you spend with him which at the end helps you develop. When he is upset, it can rub off on you. His bothered state of mind may manifest itself in various ways, such as agitation, hurt, worry or distress.
His conduct when he is upset depends on the reason for his behaviour. These realities are common to all regardless of position.
Team destroyer
It takes years to build a good team but takes only a very short time and one bad decision to destroy it. If you committed an offence – do not ignore it or take it lightly. Business success is all about teamwork and your boss’s continued commitment is paramount.
Act fast before it is too late and the problem gets amplified, take a clear look at the issue to determine why your boss is upset. Keep track of the number of times he becomes upset with you and the incidents that cause it; this helps you to gauge whether an incident is an isolated case or a recurring matter. If you are confused because you haven’t done anything to warrant that reaction from him, you might not be the reason but someone else who made a bad decision where you by default became a victim. Refrain from mirroring your boss’ behaviour, no matter how strongly you feel about it.
Being apologetic and staying calm and rational when under fire is a good way to defuse the heat to settle things off. If you act like your boss, you feed the conflict. If you must, take a short break until the dust settles.
Take responsibility if your boss is upset with you for a good reason. If, for example, you made an error in organising a social event while your boss is away on holiday, who is the main person at that event, avoid downplaying your mistake by saying it’s not a big deal, do not try to conceal your error or become defensive or make excuses.
Acknowledge that you made a mistake, explain why it happened and reassure your boss that you will do your best to not repeat it. Your accountability may increase your boss’s respect for you and soothe his ill-feelings.
Address the issue directly if your boss is upset and you don’t know why. Choose your words carefully to avoid sounding critical of him. Your concern and diplomacy may make your boss open up to you about what is truly upsetting him.
The reason might have nothing to do with you. If you have a trusted coworker, you may wish to disclose that “the boss is angry with me,” and ask for insight or advice.
Positive human experience
Give your boss some positive news to deviate his mind from negative thinking. Sway his mind from worry and gloom by mentioning some good news, such as a new activity planned, or even a new and innovative idea that can strengthen the operations of your company. Know when to keep your distance until the storm has passed. Wait until his mood has stabilised to broach sensitive topics, such as a performance review or time off from work.
You don’t need to do flattery, you just need to give your best shot in the growth of the company. One thing to be kept in mind is you should follow these practices even behind the back of your boss – be genuine. Your Boss knows everything you do even if he is not around so be honest.
Nothing can be hidden forever. Some of your colleagues may try dirty tricks to take revenge from your boss for a personal reason. Don’t be blindfolded by such dirty players who would do things to take advantage by discrediting your good name – your good relationship with your boss. Jealousy might be in the forefront in such instances.
Gratitude
While the business case for showing gratitude is clear, we should also not forget the human case — the importance of cultivating a holistic positive human experience in the workplace.
Everyone wants to feel valued and appreciated, including your boss; it is one of the deepest and most basic human needs, and our extensive experience clearly demonstrates the business and human benefits of showing gratitude in the workplace.
Leaders need to recognize and prioritise their personal efforts to consistently show sincere appreciation and gratitude toward their people, and they need to foster a gratitude culture throughout the organisation, where all employees feel responsible for and empowered to recognise each other for the good work being performed. Don’t leave your boss out.
He is a big part of your success if not the biggest. If you are looking forward to bigger wins and thus benefits, work with your boss. You can then celebrate more frequently.
