bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

DOES EVERY conversation with your boss end up as a battle to get your ideas accepted? If it does, then you already know that talent, ambition and great ideas are not enough to take you places. You also need to know how to manage situations well - and make things happen.

It never pays to sit back and wait for your manager to open opportunities for you. That could lead to an unfulfilled career - with personal goals forever out of reach.

Some people seem to be good at getting managers to see things their way. They seem to turn every situation to their advantage and make their careers grow the way they want them to. Are they just lucky, or do they know something the rest of us do not?

The skill they have is called 'managing up' - or guiding the perceptions and expectations of superiors so as to get themselves the best possible career options.

Is this manipulative? Most certainly.

But it also means you are in charge of your career. If you know how to take the initiative and negotiate confidently with those in authority, you will no longer feel like a pawn.

Ultimately, you will also contribute more to the business and find greater job satisfaction.

Managing your boss requires clarity about your objectives and being prepared to ask for what you want. A half-hearted request may be overlooked or dismissed as unimportant. So be ready with ideas on what you want to achieve. Also, be aware of possible obstacles and the alternatives you can suggest.

For example, you may have set your sights on a promotion this year. However, if company revenues are down and budgets are tight, be realistic. Ask yourself whether you would be willing to accept a better title and greater responsibility now, and bargain for higher pay later. Or, you could make a case for higher pay based on a higher sales target.

Whatever you propose, make sure it is aligned with what your manager wants to achieve. To do this, you must be clear about the company's priorities and the motivations of your boss. Remember that your boss too has someone to impress and a hierarchy to manage. So you need to consider the goals of the department and the company. When you put forward your ideas, you must be able to demonstrate how these fit in with the departmental goals.

That may not be enough, though. You also need to exert subtle influence to get your suggestions accepted.

Much will depend on the strength of your working relationship with the boss and the degree of trust you share. If your manager thinks of you as unreliable or lacking in experience, it is up to you to alter that perception. Make every effort to honour commitments and meet deadlines. Avoid pet peeves of the boss, such as being late for meetings or attending to personal e-mail in office.

Managers accept ideas more readily from people they like or respect, or with whom they feel a connection.

Therefore, it pays to invest time and effort in building a relationship. It helps if there is a shared personal interest in something outside of work. This can lead to a closer understanding of preferences and motivations, and will allow you to adjust your approach accordingly.

If your boss always looks at numbers, emphasise the impact your idea will have on them. For example, you might say, 'If we implement a new database, we can generate an extra 20 per cent revenue from high-end customers.'

Alternatively, if your manager likes to take full credit for whatever happens in the department, present your suggestions in a way that makes him or her look good. Think about what you want to achieve in the long term and remind yourself that recognition is not the only reward.

In most cases, it helps to support an idea with facts and figures. These add weight to, and inspire confidence in, a new proposal. Also, whenever possible, do not present a final version of anything to the boss before sounding him or her out for an initial reaction. By involving the boss in your ideas, you multiply your chances of success.

Finally, try to understand your manager's personality. If your boss struggles with self-esteem issues, do not introduce an idea by stating that it is better than the existing one.  Instead, outline what is good about the current system, and then present your idea as an enhancement rather than a radical new approach.



Get ahead by managing your boss