Good managers spend a lot of time and energy understanding their team members — for example, what kind of support they need and how to get the best out of them
In return, good team members should similarly try to understand their managers and understand how to get the best out of them, as well. Knowing how to ‘manage upwards’ can help strengthen your working relationship and build trust. Here are four ways you can start to make your manager’s life (and yours) a whole lot easier:
Discover your manager’s working style
Finding out what makes your manager tick can go a long way towards building a successful working relationship. By understanding how your manager prefers to communicate, how they like to receive feedback, or what their biggest pet peeves are, you can adjust your own behaviour to make life a bit easier for both of you.
Your manager will appreciate you making the accommodation, and you’ll enjoy the benefits of a more positive relationship with your manager.
Share more than you typically would
It’s always a good idea to be visible to your manager, but when working from home, it’s even more important. This isn’t about spamming your manager’s inbox with messages and updates (a sort of reverse micro-management) — indeed, by discovering their working style, you should understand the levels of communication that they prefer.
Nevertheless, by keeping your manager informed about your progress, they won’t need to chase you for an update and thus have one less thing to worry about.
Build trust through your actions
Building trust is all about integrity. No one is perfect all the time, but doing what you say is one of the things that managers value the most. By delivering your work on time, or being on hand to help with additional projects, you can establish yourself as an independent worker who doesn’t need to be micro-managed.
After all, micro-management is often the result of a manager’s belief that you won’t complete your work without them checking up on you.
Remember to disagree
Your manager isn’t a mind-reader. If you disagree with a decision being made, or if you have a suggestion for how something might be improved, it’s up to you to make yourself heard. While you want to avoid coming across as overly confrontational, find a proper time and place for voicing reasonable and respectful disagreements.
Doing so shows that you care, and a good manager will respect and welcome alternative points of view — perhaps because your perspective had simply not occurred to him or her before.
More and more organisations are hiring a transition manager to oversee critical internal changes. But what exactly does this role entail? What skills are essential for success? And how about the current demand on the Belgian job market? Christophe Paquay, senior manager at international recruitment
Read MoreWhen it comes to your career, the idea of climbing the corporate ladder might seem like the ultimate goal. But does career progression always have to mean stepping into a management role? Not necessarily. In fact, more and more professionals (particularly Gen Z) are rethinking the traditional paths
Read MoreWith the annual appraisals approaching, it is time to think about them and prepare. This conversation offers you a valuable opportunity not only to discuss your performance, but also to address your growth within the organisation and negotiate any salary increase. International recruitment firm Robe
Read MoreCome join our global team of creative thinkers, problem solvers and game changers. We offer accelerated career progression, a dynamic culture and expert training.