Here’s how to impress your boss
By
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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Hi, Andrew Rondeau here. I have over 25 years of hands-on management experience within a diverse range of different industries including retail, manufacturing, finance and IT. I’ve managed teams of up to 1000 individuals, managing numerous $multi-million projects, mergers, acquisitions and company sales.
This is not only good advice for someone who is working. But this is good for anyone who does work.
Customers and clients are the hardest bosses of all. 
.-= Gerlaine´s last blog ..The First Morning =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Not really thought that customes are my bosses – but now I have, I totally understand exactly what you are saying, Gerlaine.
Andrew
I find that sincere hard work gets me places in the office. If you are consistently a high performer then I think over time the results will speak for themselves…
.-= Bennett @ Hulk Costume´s last blog ..About Us =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Benneett,
hard work does make a difference.
Andrew
.-= Andrew @ Manager Skill´s last blog ..List of Articles =-.
I think the under promise over deliver advice couldn’t be more accurate! I think when you tell someone something and then you blow that expectation out of the water, you totally shine!
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Lacey
True!
Andrew
.-= Andrew @ Manager Skill´s last blog ..List of Articles =-.
Impressing the boss can be cringe worthy as you say but there is a definite advantage in doing so. I think you have to be very good at reading situations and adapting to your surroundings all the time. If you understand the politics of the company you can use this to your advantage. The corporate world is a very strategic game which is why I left! It has to be played but I think there is so much wasted time and energy which goes into trying to get up the slippery laddder.
I think the “under promise and over deliver” is a pretty good rule to live by in all aspects of life really. There is nothing more satisfying than over-delivering. I agree with what James has mentioned about needing to be able to read the situation and surroundings – sometimes the ability to be able to do this can keep you out of problems in the workplace and help you to impress your boss even more.
.-= Bobby @ Banana Costume´s last blog ..About Us =-.
Hey Andrew, I’m back again to comment some more
I was reading an article in a magazine this month about how to gain credibility in the workforce, some of the things it suggests to do are to always look into the eyes and pay attention when talking to someone (dont drift off into another world) and to always arrive on time to work even if your boss arrives 30 minutes late everyday. There are just a couple of the points I can remember but they also covered a lot of the ones you’ve touched on such as over-delivering etc.
Bobby
.-= Bobby @ Flintstones Costumes´s last blog ..Fred Flintstone Costumes =-.
Hi, Thanks for sharing this inspirational article! I must say that the nearest way to win the heart of the boss is to impress him through hard work and initiative. This will surely get you a place in the higher position.
.-= Vincenzo @ Free Articles´s last blog ..Getting Traffic Through Article Marketing =-.
The best thing you can do to impress your boss is work properly and do all the task has given to you, be thankful to him for the task assigned to you it means your boss trust you, to do the work greatly. But any way thanks you for the tips you share to us.
Twitter: http://www.babygiftsgallery.com/
This articles is great!
Obey the command of your boss,if you think it is right and good to your company. Be initiative and welling to do all to help the company. Thank you for this informative articles.