Managing Your Boss

Managing your boss means:

• Knowing his/her work habits and how they affect you.
• Communicating in ways he/she's most likely to hear.
• Recognizing his/her values and looking for alignment.
• Representing your staff's wins, concerns or needs effectively.
• Building trust that makes successes more enjoyable and failures less than fatal.
• Anticipating his/her needs, so you can plan your work/manage your time accordingly.
• Knowing how to disagree constructively; as the loyal opposition, not just the opposition.
• Ensuring "a place at the table" for your team, when many others in the organization are requesting resources.
• Helping one another through knowledge of each other's strengths and weaknesses. And now, the quiz.

"Twenty Questions about Your Boss" to test your depth of knowledge and understanding of the person who has direct influence on your success. Answer as many questions as you can, and consider what it might mean to your effectiveness if you can't fill in some of the blanks. Here are the 20 questions:

1. Preferred method of giving info to me:
2. Preferred method of getting info from me:
3. Biggest current pressure:
4. Stands for these values, first and foremost:
5. Biggest "hot button":
6. Passion outside of work:
7. Has expertise in:
8. Lacks expertise in:
9. Vision for our organization:
10. Would be really hurt if someone:
11. Best boss my boss ever worked for:
12. Expects this from me when there's a small problem:
13. Expects this from me then there's a big problem:
14. Will not compromise when it comes to:
15. Considers a great day at work to be:
16. Handles pressure by:
17. Is respected by her/his bosses for:
18. Respects others for:
19. Has a blind spot about:
20. Thinks I'm great at: