“Don’t avoid giving the boss bad news. Always be forthright regarding problems and potential problems”
Just as the successful manager understands the importance of “being the customer” the new manager understands the importance of “being the boss.” The boss wants the new manager to make his/her work life more productive and stress free. This means working effectively with the boss with a minimum of problems that could easily be avoided by understanding what is important to the boss.
There is one key rule for new managers to keep in mind: Keep the boss informed. Bosses don’t like to be surprised by news they believe they should know, especially regarding important news. New supervisors should follow this “No Surprise” rule even if it means giving the boss bad news. It’s better to be forthright rather than letting the boss hear about potential problems from others.
Other important points to keep in mind are:
- What specific topic areas does the boss want to know about?
- How does the boss like to receive information? In writing? Verbally? Formally? Informally?
- When is the best time to get some of his or her time? Mornings? Afternoons?
- How do other successful managers interact and deal with the boss? Ask them.
- Watch the boss in meetings. Does the boss have any personal tendencies or quirks when it comes to work, communications, and interactions?
- Get to know the type of questions the boss might ask and anticipate them. Count on being questioned by the boss regarding the reasons or supporting data for holding opinions or making decisions. It’s important that the reasons and data supporting opinions and decisions are valid and well thought out.
- Double-check and validate the information received before briefing the boss, especially in the beginning. A faulty thought process or reasoning and invalid data can result in a quick loss of confidence by the boss – and ultimately hinder any autonomy and increased responsibility in the future.