I’ve had my fair share of bosses, some great, some not so great but regardless of how they led or who they were, I realised focusing on these few things helped a great deal.
Firstly, identify the top issues giving your boss sleepless nights, take on one or two of those and address them head-on. For example, adding new accounts hasn’t had a major impact on maximizing customer value. The boss insists that focusing on keeping customers’ business with the company long enough will be more profitable than putting too much energy on new accounts all the time. If that is what will make the company more profitable, you want to heighten your customer retention strategies and heighten the customer experience. Know what is important and what isn’t, so you don’t exert energy on what doesn’t matter
Deliver results no matter what. Get the job done, on time, within budget, and with as little drama as possible. There are usually two people in the building. The ones that find a way and the ones that whine away. Chose to be on the revenue side. Even if you’re in the procurement unit, find the best options; options that may save money without compromising on quality for instance. Spend less if you need to. In some cases, you will need to spend more but remember you must deliver to take that bold decision. Simply put, act as an investor.
If you will push back against the boss’s idea, be tactful and graceful. This should not become the norm. Your boss most definitely will not want a shipwreck while he is the captain of the ship. Do your research, request respectfully for data to back implementing the idea.
If He/She is a micromanager, give them excess information about the project to establish trust. Trust is the primary cause for micromanagers. And while you flood them with all the information they will ever need, back that up with performance. Yes, you read that again, performance.
Surround yourself with people that will help create the most impactful results. Don’t have access to them? Follow them on social media for starters. Keep those that have helped create impactful results close. Attend conferences. The pandemic has ensured lots of that happens virtually. Expand your network. Yes, life is too short, but not all vacations should end up in Seychelles, Barbados, or Miami.
