management | Campus To Career

4 Types of Bosses & How To Turn Them Into Your Biggest Allies

2 12 2016

There are many types of bosses that you will run into when entering the working world. And each of them brings their own unique problems, but there are ways to turn said problems into advantages. Here are four types of bosses you might have in your life, and four ways to turn them into your diehard allies.

The Hands-off Boss

For some it’s a dream, for others, it’s a nightmare, for most, it’s a mixture of both. The hands-off boss can be confusing but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to your advantage.

Enhance your communication skills

With a hands-off boss, you need to know when to ask for guidance and when to do something yourself. Learning this is key to developing your communication skills in the workplace, which is an invaluable asset to have. Knowing when to speak up and knowing when to shut up will keep you in your boss’s good books.

Show initiative

If your boss is the hands-off kind, it’s most likely that he or she wants you to come up with your own ideas and be interdependent. Show initiative in meetings, one on ones and in your day-to-day working life. You will gain a lot of skills which will only aid you as you move up the ladder.

Become a leader

If you are on a team with a boss who keeps out of the projects, you can step into a leadership role that shows your boss you are capable of big things and help them with their job.

The Micromanager

Just as some bosses like to leave you to do your job, others like to know every small detail which can be just as daunting.

Seek them out

If your boss likes to micromanage, the best way to turn them into an ally is to give them what they want. So, seek them out for advice and guidance and check to make sure they are happy before completing tasks.

Build trust

You can voice your opinion but the more you keep your distance and do as you are told the more you build trust.

The BFF

The BFF doesn’t want to be your boss, they want to be your friend, and while this may sound great it can come with its own set of unique hassles but there are a few things that you can do to maintain a good relationship.

Follow their lead

If your boss wants to be your best friend, don’t shun them to avoid awkwardness as this will only enhance it. Instead, follow their lead and don’t overstep the bounds they have already put in place.

Gain a mentor

A boss that wants to be your friend will often go over and beyond to keep you happy, so use this to your advantage. Ask them to be your mentor to gain significant knowledge of your company as well as the business. Doing so will only benefit your relationship with them.

Climb the ladder

A lot of people don’t enjoy the blurred lines that accompany the best-friend-boss so if you are one of the few to embrace this you will be on the top of the list when it comes to promotions. This doesn’t mean “suck up”, just follow the above points and let it play out in your favor.

The Perfectionist

You have checked your work ten times but your boss still isn’t happy because the font is not to their liking? The perfectionist boss can cause a lot of headaches, but here’s how you turn them into an ally.

Appeal to their nature

If your boss is a perfectionist, you need to appeal to their perfectionist tendencies. When completing a project, point out something that could be a little better and watch their face light up with glee.

Sharpen your skills

Perfectionists can be annoying, but one positive of having a boss that is a perfectionist is the fact that you will comb over every small detail in your work before sending it to your boss. Knowing that the smallest thing might cause your boss an insurmountable amount of pain will make you extra careful when completing your tasks, sharpening your skills and keeping your boss happy in the process.

Whether your boss is hands-off, a perfectionist, or a micromanager, there is always something you can do to make your working life a lot easier. Take note of the tips above and put them into practice when you meet your new boss. Good luck!

****For this post, Campus to Career thanks Kate Thora!!****

About: Kate Thora is a Senior Content Specialist for Uphours, an online resource with information about businesses worldwide. Her artistic soul manifests itself also in her love for singing and dancing, especially to traditional Indian music. Follow her on Twitter @katethora1

7 Habits Great Managers Employ

20 11 2012

Special note: This week’s post is a little different from the basic job advice found here on Campus to Career. You see, we’re all working to land that job, improve our performance or develop ourselves professionally. At one point, there’s a good chance you’ll be ready for management. Guest blogger Valerie Cecil has a great post for you this week that will outline the 7 habits great managers employ. They’re simple and easy to remember, helping you become the ideal manager. Let us know what you think – please leave a comment below and if you like this article, pay it forward with a tweet, share via Facebook, or post to LinkedIn so that your network may benefit from the information shared.

7 Habits Great Managers Employ by Valerie Cecil

There are bad managers, good managers, and managers that are great to work for. Which one are you? Are you interested in seeing how you measure up and possibly improving your management skills? The secret to good management isn’t especially difficult to learn; it simply requires you to follow a set of common sense rules that you can quickly develop into regular habits, so that being a great manager comes with little effort or thought. Learn the 7 keys to good management and improve your chances for success.

1. Communication

When you’re a manager, strong communication skills are especially important. Your employees rely upon you to communicate to them what tasks they are required to do, how they are doing, and if there is anything they need to do to improve. If you cannot effectively communicate your instructions and observations to your employees, how do you expect the business to function in an efficient manner?

Communication also comes in handy when dealing with vendors, clients, colleagues, and in networking events. If your company is a machine, then your communication is the oil that greases the gears and keeps operations running smoothly.

2. Define Goals

In order to stay on the path to success, you must have clearly defined goals for the business, your employees, and yourself. If you aren’t working towards achieving short term and long term goals, then you have nothing to gage your success, and could just simply be floundering along. Setting goals for your employees also encourages motivation and increased productivity. If your employees don’t clearly know what they need to achieve, they are likely to do just to the minimum that is required.

3. Be Honest, Understanding, and Fair

Your employees are your assets, but they are also people, and need to be treated with the same respect you expect from them. They have feelings and circumstances in both their professional and personal lives that could affect their performance. By combining the above traits with good communication, you can foster respect and honesty from your employees, provide encouragement to improve morale and motivation, and improve your credibility and establish trust. Lead by example, and your employees are more likely to follow your lead and develop your good habits and traits.

4. Research Your Target Market

Being informed about your target market, their wants and needs, and important demographics that may determine purchasing habits will equip you with all the knowledge you need to effectively market your product or service. Customer service is key to establishing customer loyalty—do your best to appease the customer, and they will be more likely to choose you over a competitor.

5. Recognize and Reward Employee Efforts

Your employees want to know that they are doing a good job, so give credit where credit is due. Thank employees for their hard work, and show gratitude when goals are achieved or a project is completed. Offering incentives for employees who excel above and beyond is also a good way to encourage motivation and improve morale, as well as show you who isn’t really interested in performing above the minimum.

6. Utilize Your Resources Effectively

Your resources are comprised of everything from the data you’ve collected about consumers to your marketing budget to any particular skills individual employees may possess. Carefully analyze and plan how to best utilize your resources for the benefit of the company. A wasted resource is a wasted opportunity and less money generated for the business.

7. Stay Organized

Proper organization is key to keeping things running smoothly and using your time effectively. Organization goes hand in hand with time management. If you can master these two habits, you’ll greatly improve your chances for future success. Make sure you also instruct your employees on how they can stay organized as well, so that their own productivity can improve.

About the Author:
Valerie Cecil writes on career advancement for Outbounding.com. In her spare time she’s quite handy and is currently working on a confined space entry from Etraintoday.com.