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7 Ways to Make Your Boss Love You
Featured Author:
Alexandra Levit
Alexandra Levit is the founder and president of Inspiration at Work, a consulting firm. A former nationally syndicated columnist with Tribune Media Services and a current blogger for the Huffington Post, Alexandra has authored several books, including the popular They Don't Teach Corporate in College, How'd You Score That Gig?, and Success for Hire.
Alexandra makes frequent national media appearances and has been featured in thousands of media outlets including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Known as one of the premiere spokespeople of her generation, Alexandra regularly speaks at conferences, universities, and corporations on issues facing modern employees. Please learn more at AlexandraLevit.com.
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Alexandra Levit
Be self-sufficient.
Only approach your boss with a problem or complaint if you’ve explored all options for resolving it yourself. When you do, be prepared to have a solution at hand that you could implement with his help. Choose your battles wisely, and decide carefully if bringing an issue to your boss’s attention is really necessary or if you would be better off letting it go.
Be friendly.
Encourage your boss to genuinely like you. If he expresses an outrageous political opinion or offers unsolicited advice about your personal life, nod and smile. You don’t have to agree, but you don’t have to disagree either. Your boss’s feelings should be protected at all times. Compliment him on his tie or presentation, if it’s appropriate, and thank him profusely for any efforts on your behalf. Do personal favors for him and brownnose all you want, but make sure you do it sincerely. Your boss will smell phoniness a million miles away—and believe me, he won’t appreciate it. Even if your boss isn’t someone you’d choose as a friend, focus on the things about him you do like, and do your best to establish a positive working relationship.
Be a “can-do” employee.
When your boss asks you to do something, accommodate him, if possible. The words I don’t have time should never escape your lips. If you know something needs to be done, do it without being prodded, and if your boss asks for help in a group setting, be the first to volunteer. Your boss will quickly come to see you as a huge asset to the team and as someone he can count on.
Try a few of these and see if your boss becomes a trusted mentor for life!
melissa_mac888
about 1 month ago
2 comments
Great article
nyloe
2 months ago
112 comments
Great article. Another way to make your boss love you is: Be an adult. Don’t whine and complain to your boss (or anyone else) about how you hate your job, or when you don’t get your own way. Your boss is not your parent. He/she is not responsible for raising you. Being immature and childish will not make your boss love you.
shibumi0202
4 months ago
6 comments
I have always followed these rules and still have been fired and laid off from jobs. I will continue to follow these rules because this is the way an employee should relate to his/her boss.
sihaam
4 months ago
14 comments
Really I like it and I found it useful and helpful.
Thank you.
klopez36
4 months ago
6 comments
I really like the helpful insights listed here. Thanks!
jessicah1
5 months ago
2 comments
This is an excellent article that I found informative, helpful, and challenging
maplesjess
5 months ago
2 comments
Decent article, but I found it interesting (and disappointing, especially given the website's purpose) that throughout the article the manager was always referred to as a male. Managers may also be women. We have to change our speech and our examples used in business training!