By Michael Reiss
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Or rather, the hand that signs your paychecks. One of the most important lessons in your career will be how you handle working under a supervisor and reporting to a lead. However you characterize your relationship to the boss, there are varying degrees of professionalism that you should always maintain (and as a manager, I should know). Whether you like your supervisor, respectfully work together or hold them in total disdain, it is important to keep the lines of communication open and have frequent face-to- face meetings. Keep these five simple reminders in the forefront as you pursue a career at any level to ensure professional success.
- Don’t be full of surprises. Make sure your boss is kept up to date on your current work to limit future disagreements and confusion. Honesty and clarity is the best policy.
- Keep track of your all your accomplishments, big or small. If you ever seek a promotion or raise, it is vital for the boss to be aware of your recent accomplishments without having to send a reminder.
- If you need work covered, cover your bases. If you need to be out of the office for any reason due to sickness or handling a family emergency, your boss needs to be kept up to date on your work so she can cover it without losing steam.
- Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Let’s hope this uncomfortable situation doesn’t happen to you. But unfortunately, many people let their egos get the best of them and some workers justify that a climb to the top warrants squashing those they feel are threats to their ascent. If you are not getting along with your boss or colleagues and suspect their intentions when it comes to compromising your position, maintain close contact. It may seem counter-intuitive, but this will help monitor the situation to limit any potential damage to your reputation.
- Spend a little bit of quality time.The more time you spend with your boss (during work) the more time you have to build your unique relationship and get a handle on their personality. Develop rapport and a deeper understanding that allows your work to get approved and completed that much sooner.
These tips will help to snag stellar recommendations, leave you without burned bridges and a sense of ethical boundaries that keep you in high regard.
Michael Reiss is the president and founding partner of Landover Associates. Landover Associates is a technology recruiting firm that runs on non-commissioned recruiters and no voicemail. For over twenty years, our staff has worked closely with Fortune 100 company reps and tech start-ups in the NYC area while also placing programmers around the world. If you've ever wanted a professional to represent your job search, find us at www.landover.com
