Supporting your manager accelerates your career
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As an organisation we give lots of advice about how to fast track your career. Personally one of things that has helped me the most is that I’ve worked for a succession of really good managers. Many of the successes I’ve had have been down to the advice and support they’ve given me.
Quite simply, one of the best things you can do to advance your career is to look out for managers who will help you develop your skills, offer you new experiences and who won’t hold you back from bigger and better things.
Developing this relationship is about give and take. Many people focus on what their manager offers rather than beginning by focusing on what you can offer them. Focus on trying to:
The advantage of developing a strong relationship with your manager is that they are often willing to reciprocate. They can become a real advocate for you within the business. Managers are regularly asked to appraise their whole team, or individual members. Their positivity about your performance and contribution can be very helpful in helping you gain advancement. On a practical level, their assistance in broadening your network through some of their contacts, the projects they can get you involved with and the work that can be delegated to you is invaluable.
TAKE AWAY
Think of your relationship with your manager in terms of a transaction – what do you give them and what do they give you? That way you can both help each other.
Quite simply, one of the best things you can do to advance your career is to look out for managers who will help you develop your skills, offer you new experiences and who won’t hold you back from bigger and better things.
Developing this relationship is about give and take. Many people focus on what their manager offers rather than beginning by focusing on what you can offer them. Focus on trying to:
- Understand your manager as a person. Take the time to understand them as an individual, not just a work person. Like you they have a lot of things outside of work that influence how they operate inside of work. As you better understand them as an individual, the more effectively you can work together. This provides a great foundation to move towards the next stage of your career.
- Understand their strengths and weaknesses. The fastest way to help your career is to help your manager progress theirs. So take a moment to think – what weaknesses does your manager have? Can you be the answer to them? What can you do to make sure you help them manage and plug their weaknesses?
- Understand their anxieties. Do you know what’s keeping your manager awake at night? Are you doing what you can to get them more sleep? If there’s something keeping them awake at night, helping them resolve it should be amongst your top priorities.
- Find ways to subtly praise your boss to their boss. As a part of your day-to-day work people will often ask you how it’s going or involve you in 360 feedback sessions. When you get chance – if you feel positive about your manager, be sure to share it!
The advantage of developing a strong relationship with your manager is that they are often willing to reciprocate. They can become a real advocate for you within the business. Managers are regularly asked to appraise their whole team, or individual members. Their positivity about your performance and contribution can be very helpful in helping you gain advancement. On a practical level, their assistance in broadening your network through some of their contacts, the projects they can get you involved with and the work that can be delegated to you is invaluable.
TAKE AWAY
Think of your relationship with your manager in terms of a transaction – what do you give them and what do they give you? That way you can both help each other.