EPISODE 17 (50) BOSS BOVVER - respect, praise or show devotion but don’t antagonize the boss

It makes no sense to get on the wrong side of your boss, says Andrew.

But some bosses don't want to hear precisely what they should know. He says it takes bravery and cunning to keep giving the boss unwelcome news.

Managing up is when you consciously work with your boss to obtain the best possible results for you, your boss and your organisation.  Managing up can help you succeed at work.

Sometimes, as in the case example quoted in the notes here, there's a dark side and no matter how hard you try, giving the boss unwelcome facts proves impossible. 

In most situations, though, you will be able to manage up. That means you establish a good relationship with your boss or supervisor.  This starts by making clear the goals you will be working on.

Aim to become known for taking care of agreed tasks, reviewing finished work and delivering on time.  Unfortunately, it's common for inexperienced employees to present work which has not been adequately checked or well presented.

Andrew closes this Podcast with the usual three action points. One must admit mistakes, accept rebukes with good grace, and thank the person for feedback. Another is to be sure to tell the boss when you go the extra mile.

The overall conclusion is that a good relationship with senior colleagues is essential to your success at work, and be sure to find out what that person most wants from you in the job and be sure to deliver.

Case study:
The famous story of the Pinto, a car that Ford sold knowing it was faulty, is the ultimate case study of managers refusing to listen to uncomfortable feedback.

Conservative estimates suggest Pinto crashes caused 500 burn deaths to people who would not have been seriously injured if the car had not burst into flames. The figure could be as high as 900.

Ford knew the Pinto was a firetrap, which could have been fixed relatively cheaply.
Yet the company instead paid out millions to settle damage suits out of court.

It spent more millions yet lobbying against safety standards. With half a million cars rolling off the assembly lines each year, Pinto was the biggest-selling subcompact in America. The company’s operating profit on the car was fantastic.

It took Ford eight years to do the right thing and modify the car because its internal “cost-benefit analysis,” which placed a dollar value on human life, said it wasn’t profitable to

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.

Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at

www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading

and

www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.

BOOK:
The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts.
It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years.
Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

www.myhappinessatwork.com/book