10 ways to build an alliance with your manager

In some organizations, the relationship between managers and employees is more like adversaries instead of allies.  Managers and their employees are both employed to perform tasks that maintain and advance the organization. They both need each other to thrive.

An employee who is truly invested in his/her own future will take the steps needed to be a sound support system for his/her manager.{{more}} It’s a win-win situation, as the manager will begin to respect the employee’s work and recognize the employee as dependable and someone who is truly invested in the mission of the organization. This raises the employee’s profile and positions him/her for promotions and/or recognitions. The manager also benefits, as his/her team is seen as results oriented and productive and the manager seen as an effective leader.

Of course, there are managers who may not understand these efforts or may even feel threatened by a very helpful employee. Such behaviour by the manager is a reflection of his/her inability to be an effective leader.

Unless employees take on the responsibility to truly become allies with whom they work, their very job could be at stake. Companies are in dire need of team players that are able to constantly move the organization forward in the quickest, most efficient way possible, and they want the best at the helm. 

Employees and managers who constantly complain and fight with each other are a major problem, hindering productivity and creativity, and endangering the success of the organization.

Here are a few quick ways you, as an employee, can build an alliance with your supervisor.

1.   See the work from the manager’s perspective.

2.   Build a profile of your manager and learn his/her strengths and weaknesses.

3.   Produce the desired results your manager wants.

4.   Never try to show up the manager when an error is discovered.

5.   Forgive past disputes and move on.

6.   Ask the manager how to best support him/her.

7.   Strive to build a relationship based on trust.

8.   Request regular meetings to see how you can improve your performance and further support your manager.

9.   Be responsive to requests, deadlines and communication.

10. Talk up your manager to others in a positive way.

Karen Hinds is “The Workplace Success Expert.” For a FREE SPECIAL REPORT on Avoiding Career Killers in the Workplace, send an email to info@workplacesuccess.com
Visit online at www.workplacesuccess.com