These diplomatic comments help you step back from the fray and tie the past to the present. You may want to remind your bosses that changing course carries steep costs that they may wish to avoid-and that your solution provides more stability and measurable gains. Or you may find that by reviewing the stages of a project up to this point, you enable others to conclude for themselves that it's best to follow through on earlier commitments.
- End any important conversation by confirming agreements and taking notes. If you've decided to put an aide on probation, review your notes that summarize the steps your boss wants you to take and then ask, “Does that cover it?” Have your pen and notepad ready if the boss modifies the plan; that signals your intent to capture everything accurately in writing.
- Dishing out compliments to higher-ups can sound insincere. But you should always look for opportunities to thank upper management. If you get advice that you found helpful, say so. (“Thanks for your guidance on how to handle Mike's performance review.”) If you took a day off for a family emergency, express gratitude. (“Thanks for letting me tend to my family's situation yesterday.”) This shows that you appreciate their kindness and that you admire their leadership-two messages that can solidify your relationship with them.
- When upper management makes a blunder, resist playing “I told you so.” If you believe you're smarter than they are, keep it to yourself! And while it's fine to try to correct a boss' mistakes once or even twice, let it go if the problem persists.
- Warning: If bosses sound vague or unsure, don't guess what you think they want. You'll be wondering what to do next-and you'll probably wind up wasting time and energy. Instead, pin down bosses by gently pushing them toward a clearer decision or at least presenting a stark choice that they must make.
- THE EAP CAN HELP: If you are facing challenges in your relationship with upper management, ask how the EAP can help. Few workplace issues create more stress than worrying about what your supervisor thinks about your performance. The EAP may have ideas about how you can improve your relationship.
It's True! About 43 percent of workers say that they do not feel valued by their employers, according to CareerBuilder.com. If you're one of them, strengthen the relationship by empathizing with bosses and solving their problems.
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Tip Establish a specific time every day or two to communicate with your key boss or bosses (by phone or face-to-face). Stick to the same meeting time so that you get into a habit of talking at, say, 7:30 every morning or just after lunch on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These three- or five-minute status update chats prevent misunderstandings.
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