Managing the Boss
Question: My executive is notorious for delaying, fussing, hedging and eventually missing deadlines. Then there’s always a weak apology: ‘Sorry, I got sidetracked.’ Every time he does this, it inconveniences other departments. Are there any good ways to get him into a different mindset, one where we’re not all scurrying around to make up the time he costs us?
Question: The coronavirus situation has really revealed who on our staff is technologically savvy and who’s not, but my manager doesn’t seem concerned about the gap. How do I suggest that we all get more trained up on everything we should know?
Question: My executive got a few figures wrong in a recent meeting where about 20 people were present. How should I have corrected him?
Let’s start 2020 off with a bang by giving you some useful advice to help you better plan your executive’s travel.
There are all sorts of reasons delays can occur, and sometimes it’s the behavior of your leader. Authors Amy Cooper Hakim and Muriel Solomon describe four types of delaying bosses.
Effective calendar management simply cannot be handled by a robot, an application or a piece of software. It takes brain power, empathy and deep understanding.
A lot of emotions can surface in the younger boss/older employee relationship. All of them are understandable. Here are some grounding tips.
Peggy Vasquez presented the training session “How to Develop a Powerful Partnership With Your Manager” at Admin Pro Forum 2019 in Orlando. Her book NOT, “Just an Admin!” offers this advice when it’s become difficult to work with your boss.
Avoid embarrassing an “unplugged” employee by calling on him or her so you can put them on the spot.
Thinking through a problem deeply—long before taking any action—may be the key to solving it.
You will learn a great deal about your executives if you just pay attention. This will lead you to understand them at a deeper level so you can build a stronger partnership with them.
Silence is golden … A great interview question
Many books and articles cover the art of listening well. But what can you do when you’ve mastered this skill, but your boss hasn’t? How can you cut through the fog when the person you work for won’t focus on what you have to say?
