Ten things your boss wants you to do without being told

All of this may seem obvious to some, but not to others.  It is perspective.  Do you want to be good at your job?  Do you want to advance?  Are you grateful for the job that you have?  Do you want to make your work place a better environment for everyone? 

I realize that we all don't work in perfect places.  Management often takes us for granted.  It is easy to build up resentment, but where does that really get you?  It is your choice how you react.  It is your choice to find satisfaction and meaning in your work, regardless of external factors.  Some of these may be tilted towards the concept that the boss is a good boss.  But you can't control that factor, you can only control you!

So, that being said, here is a list of ten things that can make your job better as a result of making your bosses job easier.  Don't be the disgruntled, angry, resentful employee.  It is much harder to make a difference in the lives of our probationers when you are being a curmudgeon at work!

DO YOUR JOB.

Yes, this sounds obvious, but actually delivering results is the primary thing your boss needs from you. After all, it’s why they hired you.

“You have the tools and the knowledge to deliver results, and it’s up to you to do so,” says Rob Mead, head of marketing at Gnatta, a customer service company. “Your leader will be there for advice, support and to get you through the tough times, but you need to provide results and she will then fulfill her end of the bargain by helping you get to the next level.”

Coasting along won’t win you any points with the boss, nor will it advance your career.  Even if you aren't interested in advancing, doing your job goes a long ways to making your work life smoother and not drawing unwanted attention.

BE ON TIME.

“Whether it’s to a meeting, for a deadline or just to a team happy hour, nothing is more off-putting than someone being late,” Mead says.

Yes, sometimes being tardy is unavoidable — traffic, family emergencies and other conflicts arise — but it’s on you to have the grace to communicate with your boss and your colleagues when these things happen. “Leaders remember who’s there on time, and those people will be the ones they can count on,” he adds.  We have so many tools available to communicate.  Use them in these situations. 

This is also one of the things you should be emphasizing to your probationers.  To get and keep a job, you need to be on time!

PROVIDE CONTEXT.

Bosses are typically busy managing everything from people to crisis situations while trying to lead a business.  This is no easy task. So giving yours a frame of reference when speaking or sending an email about projects and clients can make a world of difference, according to executive coach and TEDx speaker Lynn Carnes.

“Recognize that you have incredible power to shape how the boss sees something if you go beyond the typical vague question of ‘What do you think?’” she says. “A quick sentence of context — like, ‘This is about the XYZ client' or ‘I’ve been thinking about our ABC project’ gets her on the same page as you quickly.” Plus, the forethought that your boss has many other things on their mind is also much appreciated. 

Think about it in the probation world.  How many probationers do you have on your case load?  How many probation officers are assigned to your unit, working for your supervisor?  If you have ten people in your unit and each has a caseload of 50 people, then there are 500 possible probationers.  Hard to keep track of, so context becomes even more important.

GET TO THE POINT.

Coupled with providing context, Carnes says, is getting to your point quickly. “Nothing drives a boss crazier than for you to beat around the bush waiting for her to connect the dots,” she says. “Trust that your boss can ‘handle the truth’ and make your statement or ask for what you need as clearly as possible.”

If you’re writing an email, take the time to edit your message for length and break down what you need to say into bullet points so your boss can easily read and understand what you’re trying to relay. Any opportunity you can create to save your boss time and help them avoid unnecessary frustration will benefit you too.  Efficiency is important!

SCHEDULE TIME.

It happens to the best of us: You stop by your boss’s office and ask, “Got just a second to go over this?” and 20 minutes later you’re getting to the end of your “quick second.” At which point your boss doesn’t seem to be paying attention. “You think it’s because he doesn’t like your ideas or doesn’t care about your problem,” Carnes says. “In reality? It’s because he is now running late for a meeting and is trying not to be rude by cutting you off.”

Be realistic about the time you need with your boss, and don’t pop into their office for a “sec” if whatever you have to say will inevitably take longer. Instead of showing up unannounced, have the forethought to schedule time with them and get on their calendar.  Try to be realistic about the amount of time you will need to talk about the subject and schedule that amount of time.  And let them know when you are scheduling the time what the topic of the conversation will be, so they have context.

HAVE A CAN-DO ATTITUDE.

Sure, being an overly positive Pollyanna might just annoy your boss (and everyone else in your office, to be honest), but there is something to be said about an employee who willingly takes on the challenges of their job. If you don’t agree with a decision or a direction the boss wants to go in, then by all means push back and explain your position.  But don’t be the person who continually gripes over how difficult or insurmountable your tasks are.  Don't be the unit curmudgeon or disgruntled employee. 

“As someone for whom being positive doesn’t come naturally, it took me time to master this, but it’s key,” Mead says. “Being told that something is impossible is a switch off for any senior person — there’s always a way to do something. Stating that something can’t be done is never the right answer.”

I'm not talking about having "helium hand" that goes up and volunteers for everything.  Take on reasonable amounts of work and volunteer for additional tasking where it is doable within your schedule.  But don't be the employee that doesn't to anything "extra" or won't take on anything outside what they perceive as their job.  There is always other things that need to be done and putting yourself out there to do them is good for everyone.

SOLVE PROBLEMS, DON’T CAUSE THEM.

We’ve all heard this one: Don’t bring problems, bring solutions. “It’s a massive cliché, but, as with all clichés, it contains a grain of truth,” Mead says. “If you always bring problems, people will eventually stop listening. If you bring solutions, however, you’ll be remembered positively — even if they don’t always work 100 percent of the time.”

He explains that leaders are always looking for people who care enough about their roles to improve both their own areas of responsibility and those of others. Having the creativity and ingenuity to at least try to resolve complications will get you recognized for being resourceful and for being a team player who looks out for the greater good.  Be known as a problem solver, not as a "problem child."

TAKE INITIATIVE.

Being a self-starter goes a long way toward impressing the boss, yet taking initiative is seldom done, says Jessica Tsukimura, head of the New York Client Services team for Stag & Hare, a global branding and design agency. In fact, she says that this quality is usually the main piece of feedback for her team in every performance review.

“See an issue or a need internally or with a client? Why not try to develop solutions before it’s assigned to someone? This showcases your willingness to pitch in as well as your ability to problem solve and be effective,” Tsukimura says. “Your proactive nature will make you stand out among your peers, and your boss will no doubt take notice.”

In a government organization that most of us work for, it is always a good idea to match this one with the prior tip.  Take it to the boss first with a solution and work it out if possible.  But there is also something to be said about it being easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.  If it needs to get done (and the solution won't get your fired), get it done.

TAKE NOTHING PERSONALLY.

To quote “The Godfather” (and “You’ve Got Mail”), what happens at the office “isn’t personal, it’s business.” This is especially true when it comes to the feedback your boss gives you.

“Bosses need to give constructive feedback on your work without worrying about hurting your feelings,” Carnes says. “And if you do find yourself having taken things personally, you don’t have to react. When you get defensive, it sends a warning signal that there is something to worry about.” Instead, she advises taking a deep breath and remembering that feedback will help you flourish and grow.

Everyone gets frustrated when you make a mistake.  But you can't take it too personally or you won't ever get better at your job.  And take that feedback from all sources.  Just because it comes from the grumpy employee that doesn't do much or the fresh out of school new hire doesn't mean it isn't valid and worth listening to.  You may also get good feedback from your probationers.

DON’T JUDGE.

Bosses have to constantly make decisions. Some of these are very difficult, and many of them cannot be discussed in detail with employees. Chances are that you won’t agree with all of them. But it’s up to you how you react to them.

“While it’s OK to ask the boss why a decision was made, recognize that she may not be at liberty to share all the details,” Carnes says. “It’s a great time to assume positive intent and give her the benefit of the doubt given the set of circumstances she was in.” Passing unnecessary judgment can come off as childish and even discourage your boss from envisioning you in a more senior role down the line.

If you look at the privacy issues, Human Resource restrictions, HIPPA restrictions, etc., there are many things that may restrict your boss from fully discussing why the decision was made.  It may also be that all of it was above your pay grade in the need to know category. 

But, if you calmly and rationally don't agree or understand, and you are represented by a union, taking it to a shop steward is another option.  Just be careful not to overuse this or you will be labelled as a "problem child" even if you are right.

This was borrowed from:
http://www.livestrong.com/slideshow/13400147-10-things-your-boss-wants-you-to-do-without-being-told/#slide=1

When I see articles like this that are helpful, I am trying to add to them to make it more applicable to our specific field.  Is there anything you would add to this list?



Be safe!!

P. O. Doe


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