Whether you’ve got a manager worthy of the ‘Boss of the Year’ award, or one that makes you contemplate handing in your notice every time you have a conversation, sometimes it’s worth making those above you look good.
Maybe you have a terrific boss who you feel deserves recognition for going above and beyond. Maybe your boss has supported you through difficult times and you feel you should reciprocate. Or maybe you just want to earn some brownie points and be at the front of the queue when the next promotion opportunity comes up.Whatever your reason, shining the spotlight on your boss occasionally can be mutually beneficial.
But be aware, there’s a very fine line between “sucking up” and supporting your boss. So how do you get the brownie points without it being too obvious and risking getting labelled as the teacher’s pet?
Here are 12 ways to make your boss look good without compromising your principles:
Be the best you can be – The easiest way to help make your boss shine is to perform well and get results.
Remember it’s a team game – Sharing your knowledge and helping others can help your team perform better and reflect well on you and your boss.
Give credit where credit is due – If a project has gone well and revenue is up as a result of good management and input by your boss, then flag it up. They obviously deserve it and it may ensure things run as smoothly in the future.
Keep communicating – Keep your boss in the loop, this means he’ll always have the answers and you’ll help them stay ahead of the curve.
Those who play together, stay together – you probably spend more time talking to your colleagues and your boss than some members of your family, so make sure it’s not all work and no play. Suggesting and helping your boss organise team building events out of the office will help team spirit, moral, communication and ultimately boost results.
Keep some things behind closed doors – if you have a problem with your boss don’t air your dirty laundry in public. Have these discussions in private and keep positive in any team or client meetings.
Honesty is the best policy – praise your boss but make sure it’s merited. If you’re sucking up, chances are your peers (and your boss) will see right through you!
Stick to the priorities – make an effort to learn and understand what are the most important KPI’s to your boss and the company as a whole. Working on and succeeding in the areas that he prioritises will reflect well on you, him and the entire team.
Make it subtle – if it’s a bit obvious or cringe-worthy praising the boss in team meetings or to senior management then you can just praise the project and mention who was the lead on it. This positive feedback will reflect well on you and make your boss look good by association.
Take it outside – don’t limit the positive feedback to those within your team. If you’ve got a great boss share your opinion with those in other department and to clients. Clients in particular like to know that the person they are dealing with is part of a steady ship and it will help build trust.
How would you feel? – remember your boss in only human. We all thrive on praise and positivity so if your boss feels good, it’s likely he’ll treat his work, his team and you well.
Take the initiative – Try to think of valuable new projects or ideas that you can start and complete without much supervision or guidance from your boss that will reflect well on your boss, the team and the revenue.
Stay positive – no one likes a negative person and your boss will appreciate your ability to come up with solutions rather than problems. An over-burdened boss will not be as effective so try to avoid complaining and stop relying on your boss to find the solution to all problems.
