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Helping the boss make the best use of his or her time is, well, your top priority. Doing so helps ensure that your manager—and by extension, you—shine.
To be successful at this, you must understand your boss’s work style. Is he a micromanager who wants to know aspect of every project—in an exhaustive five-page report? Is she a “big-picture” person who prefers brief, face-to-face updates and one-to-two-page, double-spaced memos?
It’s almost impossible to change someone’s style. So, to ensure that your manager’s time—and yours—is used productively, you must adapt to the boss’s style.
Communicating early and often is key. Set a regular meeting—every morning, every other day … or whatever works best to keep the boss up to speed on every project and team member. Should a big problem (or a big win!) occur, tell the boss immediately, because surprises make everyone look bad.
Finally, it’s up to you to proactively manage meetings. Create an agenda, action items and possible outcomes for every meeting. Schedule a timeframe for each topic and make sure the meeting manager keeps to it. Overlong meetings waste everyone’s time, but especially the bosses.
Remember: Whatever makes your boss’s job easier makes your job easier.
Welcome to the ASAP Circle, a community platform for peer-to-peer conversation on trending topics, professional challenges, and shared experiences. We even have designated spaces for weekly Tuesday Coffee Breaks.