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Just as you manage your employees, you need to manage the boss. Your management career will take off if you can show the higher-ups that you’re a reliable, trustworthy star.

The very thought of trying to impress the boss may make you cringe. The notion of currying favour with powerful people at your organization may strike you as a fake, calculated attempt to get ahead.

There’s a right way and wrong way to impress VIPs.

If you exceed expectations, anticipate and address a boss’s concerns, and consistently look for ways to add value, you’ll shine.

But if you show off, bad-mouth colleagues, and hog credit for team accomplishments, you’ll muddy your reputation and lose any chance of advancement.

Speak in can-do language.

Bosses will heed your comments if you sound like you’re organized, enthusiastic and eager to deliver results. When they ask you a question, give a one-sentence overview before you dive into the details. For example, start by saying, “We have three options” or “Let’s examine this on three different levels.”

Look ahead when discussing the status of a project.

Focus on what will happen next rather than rehash what’s already occurred. And never admit you’re in wait-and-see mode. It’s better to say, “We’re going to make progress when we resume our meeting next week” than “I’m waiting for a return call so we can schedule a meeting next week.”

When the boss asks you to do something, respond with confidence.

Say, “I’ll have that for you by 8:00 tomorrow morning” rather than “I’ll try to get that to you tomorrow morning.” Don’t leave yourself an out. Executives grow suspect of managers who lace their remarks with qualifiers and back off from making bold commitments.

Look for patterns in your interaction with your superiors.

Anticipate what issues or requests the boss will raise and be ready to answer. If you promise to do something, follow through promptly. Never make your boss nag you.

Most importantly, adopt a “no excuses” policy.

Failing to produce results almost guaranteed that a boss will doubt your abilities. When you’re asked to give a progress report, start by summarizing what you’ve done, not what you haven’t been able to do. Say, “Here’s where we are at” or “So far we’ve achieved these five goals.” Don’t say, “I haven’t had a chance to…..” or “I’m hoping that soon I can….”

Prepare to delight the boss by taking these steps:

Arm yourself with answers:

Think in advance of what the boss will ask you – and prepare concise answers. Research the facts and gather the latest information so you’re ready  to impress with your vast knowledge of an issue.

Under-promise and over-deliver:

Set time frames that you can beat. List your project objectives – and then accomplish all of them along with tossing in something extra. Consistently go beyond what’s expected and you’ll stand out.

Challenge in private:

Wait for a calm moment to question a boss’s order. Make sure no one else can overhear. Never object to the boss’s comments in public.

How do you impress your boss? Share you views in the comments below.

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