is it possible to manage your boss?

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR BOSS

By: Thomas Chiedozie Williams

I conducted a research and the result turned out to be that, the major reason why some employees are not effective was their boss.

Your boss can be anyone you report to directly or indirectly.

The term itself,  "BOSS" is also someone who is higher than you in rank in the office.  How can you, a mere employee, be able to manage your boss and start a relationship with him? Well, there are different types of bosses that you might encounter in your lifetime.

Speaking from experience i once had a boss who was my direct line manager and HOD whom i report to and Another boss that is the M.D of the department.

The relationship i have with both of them differs, the MD has a personality which he has built over the years that everyone knows, even though if you are new in the organization and in another department, it wont take you a few days to reckon with his personality. talking of his personality, the MD is the kind of person who wants to be heard, and noticed and seen to have the final authority, he can embarrass you especially if you are not properly dressed to his taste, he prefers you dress straight up strictly professional and corporate looking whether it's a day for casual wears or not, he talks loud and is goal oriented and will drive you to the extreme to achieve whatever target is set before you, he doesn't listens to opinions and is quick to pass judgment without a second thought. if you work directly under him you will be on your toes at all times.



The HOD in the other hand has a different approach to things, he jokes a lot even when he gives you a job, he gives you the opportunity to work without pressure, and is open to opinions, you can approach him any time, he sees you more as a friend rather than he a Boss. when my HOD retired and another person who have similar character to that of the MD took over, in fact this new HOD was mentored by the MD. now you see, but there was a problem, this HOD in the process of trying to emulate the MD's pattern of leadership, became an eye service manager, or Boss who adopted what i call the Copy and Paste style, he is insulting, no manner of approach he is locomotive in his mode of execution, he doesn't have an idea of the new market strategy, preparation of reports, and input of new methods in an advance organizational system, this ignorance made him indignant to people, and in other to hide this disabilities  he became a bully.

I in particular suffered a great deal from his molestation and bull-ism like character, i was insulted openly even in the presence of outsiders, very often than any one, that i had to ask myself if there is something wrong with me or if i have actually met him in another life where i wronged him,

"not until i changed my perspective and instead began to study him closely to understand who he was,why he acts the way he does, what are the things he likes and don't, and his level of know how on the job he was given to do. This research opened my eyes to see how i can actually MANAGE MY BOSS".

Managing your boss does not instantly mean that you have to undermine him; that you literally have to manage him although you have to do a lot of adjustments to please him. Sometimes, admit it or not, we may bend some of our own principles just to get along with the boss.

There are Various kinds of Boss and how you can Manage them.

The Martyr 

This kind of boss will do anything for the company even to the extent of coming to work in the midst of a super typhoon while he has pneumonia or walking 30 minutes to the office every day after his car had an accident and he has to amputate both of his legs (well, he is somehow like that).  How to Deal with him: Listen to him and you may get some advice from him. You can’t keep him from the things that he wants to do with the company. The loyalty of this kind of his boss is obviously to the company so make sure not to talk anything against or you have complaints about the company to him. If you want to point out something negative, try the art of proper timing.

The Screamer 

This type of boss usually has issues: 1. either he just wants to be heard enough to get his way; 2. He gets more pressure and stress by pleasing the higher authority and managing the subordinates or; 3. He is deaf.  How to Deal with Him: Whatever his issues may be, you just have to avoid being shouted at and make sure to get your job done. If you finally get the chance to earn his respect, maybe you should try asking him to lower down his voice. He may not know that he is already raising it.

The Manipulator 

He takes great pride in waving his power and authority around, not just in office but sometimes also at home. A power-brandishing boss loves wearing the mask of a boss, and believes that bosses are the highest-regarded professionals in the world. He is overtly possessive of his post and always wants to give an impression that he is completely in control of the situation, even when in reality he is not.
How to Deal with Him: This type of boss gives significance to discipline, rather than performance, and is of the opinion that employees should be self-disciplined. His motto is that with discipline, employees will eventually perform. Even if you find such bosses to be lenient, you should not break the rules too
often; and even if you do so, make sure that you don’t bring it to his notice. Show him respect him, and make him feel that he is the big boss and you will be able to go about your duties undisturbed.

The Clueless

 A friend of mine from Jakarta, Indonesia experienced this kind of boss on his first job. Being clueless himself, they had somehow clicked.  This type of boss is not dumb, he is just uneducated. Perhaps he just started with the company or is unfamiliar with the technology or has been put in that position because the administration has no choice. It doesn’t mean that he is fraud. He just needs more time to adjust and learn How to Deal with Him: suggestions are often appreciated by this kind of bosses and if you can help him, you can easily befriend him

The Perfect 

This kind of boss are mostly motivators; the ones who can juggle the pressures of the company, administrative tasks and managing employees. You wouldn’t have any problems in dealing with him in the workplace.