7 keys to dealing with managers

A good manager can inspire you to great achievement, while a bad one can be thoroughly de-motivating and make your life a living hell. The qualities most often associated with good managers include fairness, concern for others, supportiveness, consistency, and the ability to inspire workers to deliver their best.

You must understand that managers are also under pressure to perform effectively. They look upon their team members to cooperate and help in achieving the targets. The success of your efforts depends greatly on the way you deal with your manager. The following suggestions will help you in this task:

1. Contributing to your manager’s success and building the team

You can contribute to your manager’s achieving success and building the team by doing the following:

• Defining your role and what is required of you to become a highly efficient team member;
• Thinking like your manager – easing their pressures and anticipating their needs;
• Keeping your manager well informed and organized;
• Building a successful working relationship with your manager.

2. Managing your workload and time

Workload is usually more than can be attended to during the time available. In order to do justice to your workload within the given time frame, you may follow the following guidelines:

• Managing your own and your manager’s time – organization and planning techniques that get you in control;
• Establishing priorities when everything is urgent;
• Identifying and minimizing “time stealers” and correcting non-productive work habits;
• Meeting the needs and demands of more than one manager/person.

3. Taking greater control and responsibility

In order to deal with your manager effectively, you may adopt the following practices:

• Solving problems effectively in your manager’s absence;
• Increasing your influence and manager’s confidence in you;
• Broadening the scope of your role and taking greater responsibility.

4. Managing pressure

Never allow yourself to be put under unreasonable pressure. Too often your manager will pass more and more work down to you. Be careful about such pressures and learn to say ‘No’ politely. If still the manager insists, ask him/her to prioritize your revised workload.

5. Managing your emotions

It is very important to control your emotions at work. Learn not to show any negative emotions resulting from events at work. You may not agree with certain actions or decisions taken by your manager. If that is the case, discuss it rationally with him/her.

6. Matching your manager’s style

To work well with your manager is to learn how he/she works. Determine what your manager expects so you can fulfill his/her expectations and even anticipate what they will ask for next. If he/she is a talkative type, they probably prefer verbal communication. On the other hand, if he/she continually sends you memos and written reports, there’s a signal that they would appreciate the same from you.

7. Remembering special points

“Managing up” means you take responsibility for developing your relationship with your manager, however difficult he/she may be. Here is how to do it:

• Understand the difficult managers. Learn how they think, what they fear, why they do what they do. Understanding difficult people makes it easier to deal with them.
• Know specifically what to do and say.
• Look at the difficult managers. Chances are, at least one person manages to get along with them. Learn how he/she does it. You can too!
• Bring out the best in difficult managers. Nobody is difficult all the time – and everybody is difficult some of the time. Reinforce the most positive behaviour in everyone.
• Does your manager get to work at 8.00 and leave at 6.00? Think about adjusting your work hours accordingly.
• How does he/she dress? While you don’t want to copy his/her style, you also don’t want to dress too casually when they prefer co-workers to wear formal dress.
• Though it may seem childish to concentrate on things like clothing and work hours, why not use every available tool to your advantage?

About the author: Manmohan Joshi is a Consultant & Training Facilitator for employment-related training. He is also an author of books on management and has published “Human Resource Management” and 3 further eBooks on bookboon.com.