Managing Your Boss

In the middle of a long list of tasks, networking strategies, looking for new executive jobs, and other things that go into your daily grind, you sometimes have to manage your boss too. Yes, your boss manages you and the team you belong to, but you also need to adjust and do your part in helping him do his job. And honestly, if you think about it, it seldom happens that you have a great boss who does a great job and makes life so much easier for you. So how do you manage your own boss?

• Build trust. Volunteer to work on little projects and do your best in them. The goal is to make your boss feel that there is no need to micromanage you. And as you progress on the project, give updates to your boss so he wouldn’t have to follow up with you on its status. Before it even crosses his mind to check up on you, you should have already submitted a report.

• Ask questions. Oftentimes, your boss has a lot of tasks on his plate. Aside from that, he also assumes that you know what he means, and he expects you to understand from his level of understanding. Of course, this isn’t the case. This can cause a deluge of problems if not dealt with properly. Ask questions and don’t hold back on them until you get a clear picture of what he wants you to do. You don’t want to be in a situation where you fail to accomplish a task because of unclear instructions. When that happens, will you be able to blame your boss?
• Ask for clear and comfortable deadlines. Some bosses just throw tasks at you like you’re somebody with great powers. While it can be flattering that your boss trusts your capabilities, it can also be tiring if you always have to juggle so many tasks all at the same time. The quality of your work may be compromised. So, every time your boss gives you a new task, make sure that all deadlines are clear and well-planned so that you can manage your time more effectively.
• Ask your boss to mentor you. Being an apprentice will allow you to progress faster than any other method, so take every opportunity to learn from your boss. Ask him for step-by-step instructions every time there is a new task, discuss issues and resolve problems with him. Sure, there are many accounting jobs in Singapore, but you can get the best one if you capitalise on the knowledge you acquired from your boss and put them into practice when the time comes for you to manage your own team.

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