Being Your Boss’s Right Hand Man or Woman and Being Compatible

Did you know, however that 80 percent of your boss’s satisfaction is actually only related to about 20 percent of the work you do  (that old 80/20 rule popping up again)?  You therefore need to find out just what that all important 20 percent is so you have your attention focused on the right areas.  Spending that 80 percent of your time on items your boss is less interested in will only cause frustration and miscommunication that affects both of you. Not only that, but you’ll be leaving only a mediocre impression instead of the excellent impression you know you’re capable of creating.

In order to find out what the most important 20 percent is, you have to ask.  When you first start a new job, it’s a good idea to ask a potential employer to describe what kind of person they’d consider the ideal employee in your position to be.  Ask how the ideal employee would perform and what attributes would be most valuable to your boss. Then ask what the next most important quality would be etc. etc.

You can do this with each new assignment your boss gives you. Find out what your boss wants you to focus on and what you should spend your energy on. Then make this a priority.  It might sound as if this would be obvious, but different bosses have different priorities and you can’t just guess and hope you’ll be right.  You have to ask.

At the end of a project it’s also worth checking in with your boss as to what went well or what could have been improved, or even what you should do differently next time around. Getting this kind of feedback will help you with future projects and will help open the communication channels between you (just remember not to get defensive, see his or her feedback as constructive criticism and something that’s aimed at helping you improve – when the communication channels are open between you, everyone wins).

At the same time, it’s also worth being aware of what promises you should and shouldn’t make when it comes to a work task.  If the boss asks you how long a project may take, don’t just given an answer right away.  Tell him or her you’ll figure it out and get back to them. Then genuinely take the time to estimate, given your other duties, how long a task will take you to complete.

If completing a new project will interfere with work you have already been given, go back to the boss and strategize which projects are the most important and should be handled first, and which can be moved down your priority list or even delegated to others.

Working well with your boss and being compatible with him or her makes life easier for you and your boss.  This compatibility leads to a productive and harmonious relationship that ultimately benefits everyone who works in the company.