communicating with ur boss

8/4/2019 Communicating With Ur Boss

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Communicating Effectively withCommunicating Effectively with

your Bossyour Boss

Wendy Hamilton HoelscherWendy Hamilton Hoelscher

Learning and Organizational DevelopmentLearning and Organizational Development


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ObjectivesObjectives

Understand what it means to manage upUnderstand what it means to manage up

and why it is importantand why it is important

Diagnose your managers work style andDiagnose your managers work style andyour own work styleyour own work style

Develop strategies for managing yourDevelop strategies for managing your

managermanager


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Management DefinedManagement Defined

Management is a discipline an organizedManagement is a discipline an organized

body of knowledge and as such isbody of knowledge and as such is

applicable everywhere it is also culture.applicable everywhere it is also culture.

Management is a social function andManagement is a social function and

embedded in a culture of values, customs,embedded in a culture of values, customs,

and beliefs of an organizationand beliefs of an organization

Peter DruckerPeter Drucker


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Best Boss, Worst BossBest Boss, Worst Boss

Group 1: What were some of the qualitiesGroup 1: What were some of the qualities

and of quirks of theand of quirks of the bestbest boss youboss you

ever had?ever had?

Group 2: What were some of the qualitiesGroup 2: What were some of the qualities

and quirks of theand quirks of the worstworst boss youboss youever had?ever had?


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Managing up means Managing up means

focusing on the relationship withfocusing on the relationship with

your boss to obtain the bestyour boss to obtain the bestresults for you, your boss andresults for you, your boss and

your organizationyour organization


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The Managerial ConundrumThe Managerial Conundrum

Managers are typically hired for theirManagers are typically hired for theirtechnical competence and thentechnical competence and then

rewarded with managerialrewarded with managerialresponsibilities.responsibilities.

BUT ---BUT ---

There is no Management Fairy toThere is no Management Fairy tomake new managers managersmake new managers managers


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Lets Begin Lets Begin

Think about your relationship with your currentThink about your relationship with your current

bossboss

What works wellWhat works well

What doesnt workWhat doesnt work

What keeps you awake at nightWhat keeps you awake at night

What keeps your boss awake at nightWhat keeps your boss awake at night


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Unskilled at Boss RelationshipsUnskilled at Boss Relationships(from Lombardo and Eichinger)(from Lombardo and Eichinger)

Not comfortable with bossesNot comfortable with bosses

May be tense in bosss presenceMay be tense in bosss presence

May not be open to coaching or directionMay not be open to coaching or directionfrom the bossfrom the boss

Problems dealing comfortably with authorityProblems dealing comfortably with authority

Poor boss relationship gets in the way ofPoor boss relationship gets in the way ofpersonal productivitypersonal productivity


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Skilled at Boss RelationshipsSkilled at Boss Relationships(from Lombardo and Eichinger)(from Lombardo and Eichinger)

Responds and relates well to bossesResponds and relates well to bosses

Would work harder for a good bossWould work harder for a good boss

Is open to learning from bosses who areIs open to learning from bosses who aregood coaches and who provide latitudegood coaches and who provide latitude

Likes to learn from those who have beenLikes to learn from those who have been

there beforethere before Easy to challenge and develop, comfortablyEasy to challenge and develop, comfortably

coach-ablecoach-able


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Overused Skill Boss RelationshipsOverused Skill Boss Relationships(from Lombardo and Eichinger)(from Lombardo and Eichinger)

Over-dependence on bosses and highOver-dependence on bosses and high

status figures for advice and counselstatus figures for advice and counsel

May shut out other sources of feedback andMay shut out other sources of feedback andlearninglearning

Picks the wrong boss to modelPicks the wrong boss to model


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Some Causes for Poor BossSome Causes for Poor Boss

RelationshipsRelationships Boss doesnt think you are as good as you thinkBoss doesnt think you are as good as you think

you areyou are You think the boss has the job you shouldYou think the boss has the job you should

Large gap in skills leading to undervaluing/ notLarge gap in skills leading to undervaluing/ notrespecting the other (either direction)respecting the other (either direction) Mismatches in ethics, values and integrityMismatches in ethics, values and integrity Mismatches in management practicesMismatches in management practices

Mismatches in style, philosophy, pace andMismatches in style, philosophy, pace andmotivationmotivation Poor communication in both directionsPoor communication in both directions


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Circle of Influence/Circle ofCircle of Influence/Circle of

ConcernConcern

Circle of Concern

Circle of Influence


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Key FactorsKey Factors

1.1. Understanding your bosss work styleUnderstanding your bosss work style

2.2. Understanding your bosss goals andUnderstanding your bosss goals and

prioritiespriorities3.3. Understanding how your role links to yourUnderstanding how your role links to your

managers work and organizationalmanagers work and organizational

successsuccess


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Management Styles: LogicManagement Styles: Logic

Prefers detailed analyses and factsPrefers detailed analyses and facts

Be able to answer tough questionsBe able to answer tough questions

Explain processes and methodologyExplain processes and methodology Be correct!Be correct!


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Management Style:Management Style:

Visionary/CreativeVisionary/Creative

Prefer top and bottom line discussionsPrefer top and bottom line discussions

Engaged through discussion, questionsEngaged through discussion, questions

Brainstorm rather than data dumpBrainstorm rather than data dump Cant be done not in the vocabularyCant be done not in the vocabulary

Emphasize positivesEmphasize positives


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Management Styles: RelationshipManagement Styles: Relationship

Values connection and collaborationValues connection and collaboration

Discusses work and life outside workDiscusses work and life outside work

Be prepared to discuss how implementationBe prepared to discuss how implementationof an idea will impact the teamof an idea will impact the team


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Management Style: EgoManagement Style: Ego

Driven and competitiveDriven and competitive

Show how ideas benefit the manager and/orShow how ideas benefit the manager and/or

the teamthe team Will modify what you do to put own stampWill modify what you do to put own stamp

on the resultson the results

Smells fear, be confidentSmells fear, be confident


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Management Styles: Action OrientedManagement Styles: Action Oriented

Task focusedTask focused

Can do and will more than othersCan do and will more than others

Everything a priorityEverything a priority Diplomatically push back to get realisticDiplomatically push back to get realistic

goals and timelinesgoals and timelines


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Management Style: PerfectionistManagement Style: Perfectionist

Values getting things done right with highestValues getting things done right with highest

qualityquality

Requests do-oversRequests do-overs Have others look over your work beforeHave others look over your work before

handing it offhanding it off

Dont take it personallyDont take it personally


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Work Styles: Your BossWork Styles: Your Boss

Formal or informal?Formal or informal?

Briefed in writing or brainstorming?Briefed in writing or brainstorming?

Energized or annoyed by sidebars?Energized or annoyed by sidebars? Hands on or regular, informal updates?Hands on or regular, informal updates?

Energized or avoids conflict?Energized or avoids conflict?

Decisive or open-ended?Decisive or open-ended?


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Work Styles: YouWork Styles: You

Formal or informal?Formal or informal?

Briefed in writing or brainstorming?Briefed in writing or brainstorming?

Energized or annoyed by sidebars?Energized or annoyed by sidebars? Hands on or regular, informal updates?Hands on or regular, informal updates?

Energized or avoids conflict?Energized or avoids conflict?

Decisive or open-ended?Decisive or open-ended?


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Managing Up Speed BarsManaging Up Speed Bars

Understand your bosss wants/needsUnderstand your bosss wants/needs

Understand your wants/needsUnderstand your wants/needs

Agree to clear expectationsAgree to clear expectations

Understand how you like to be managedUnderstand how you like to be managed

Remember to deliver the good newsRemember to deliver the good news

Be appropriate but dont sugar-coat bad newsBe appropriate but dont sugar-coat bad news

Pick your battles and words carefullyPick your battles and words carefully

Help manage time yours and theirsHelp manage time yours and theirs

You do have the power to make things better!You do have the power to make things better!


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The TriggersThe Triggers

What sets your boss off?What sets your boss off?

What are your bosss hotWhat are your bosss hot

buttons?buttons?

What does your boss doWhat does your boss do

when a hot button iswhen a hot button is

triggered?triggered?

What sets you off?What sets you off?

What are your hotWhat are your hot

buttons?buttons?

What do you do when aWhat do you do when a

hot button is triggered?hot button is triggered?


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Some Advice from FYISome Advice from FYI

No loose lipsNo loose lips

Depersonalize and be neutralDepersonalize and be neutral

Learn from the situationLearn from the situation

Realize it could be youRealize it could be you

Careers are made and broken on adversityCareers are made and broken on adversity

Face the bossFace the boss

Strike a bargain with yourself to do your best Strike a bargain with yourself to do your best your career will continue past this bossyour career will continue past this boss


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Keys to Managing a Rocky BossKeys to Managing a Rocky Boss

RelationshipRelationship

Work to leave behind the least amount ofWork to leave behind the least amount oflong-term noise for yourself and thelong-term noise for yourself and theorganization.organization.

Keep your head down.Keep your head down. Focus your communications with the bossFocus your communications with the boss

on work-specifics.on work-specifics.

Think of five ways to accomplish anythingThink of five ways to accomplish anythingand try them all!and try them all!

Access your network for performance help.Access your network for performance help.


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Putting it All Together: An ActivityPutting it All Together: An Activity

1.1. SelectSelect oneone issue with your boss that, ifissue with your boss that, ifresolved, will make your work life betterresolved, will make your work life better

2.2. Diagnose your boss and diagnose yourselfDiagnose your boss and diagnose yourself

using work styles, management styles andusing work styles, management styles andtriggerstriggers

3.3. Identify ways to manage up to resolve thisIdentify ways to manage up to resolve this

issueissue4.4. Identify one thing you can do immediatelyIdentify one thing you can do immediately

to resolve your boss issueto resolve your boss issue

communicating with ur boss

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