CHAPTER 12

We, Inc.: Working with Others or Starting Your Own Business

Our success will be measured by the answers to four questions: First, were we truly men of courage? Second, were we truly men of judgment? Third, were we truly men of integrity? Finally, were we truly men of dedication?

—John F. Kennedy

Nobody works entirely alone. Sooner or later you must interact with customers, colleagues, co-workers, bosses, and/or

customers. That is why the ability to communicate and get along with other people can make or break a career. Sure, there are people who seem to be successful despite the fact that they are jerks; but you can’t count on being one of them. To ensure your own success—and satisfaction—you need to develop successful people-management skills.

Managing Your Boss

One of the most important career skills is learning to manage upward. Much as I hate to admit it, it’s true that flattery can get you somewhere with your boss (but only if you really mean it). Randall A. Gordon, a University of Michigan psychologist who reviewed 69 studies on the topic, concluded, “ingratiation shrewdly employed will get you ahead. If you have two people who are both competent at what they do, but one is really good at schmoozing…the one likely to get the raise is the schmoozer. It gives you the edge.”

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For those of you who aren’t good schmoozers, there’s no reason to get discouraged. Instead, you need to develop a solid, mature work ethic and relationship with the people you report to.

Boss-Management Guidelines

Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

■Manage expectations and priorities. When you receive a new assignment, make sure you know what is expected of you.

■Solicit feedback. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback about your work. It’s better to know the truth, even if the truth (as your boss sees it) isn’t completely flattering.

■Keep the lines of communication open. Share information with your boss and look for ways to make him/her look good.

■Don’t gossip. Regardless of how you feel about your manager, don’t share your negative feelings with others in the company. The things you say in private have a way of making themselves known to the wrong people.

■Be a team player. Although it’s important to protect your own needs and rights, there are also times when you will need to put your department or company’s needs in front of your own. Knowing when to take a stand is part of the art and skill of being a good team player.

■Manage conflict and disagreement. When you’re feeling unfairly criticized, discuss your concerns rationally with your boss in a nonconfrontational way.

■Build trust. A key element in managing your boss is building trust in the relationship by being trustworthy. Make every effort to maintain honesty and dependability by honoring commitments and deadlines. Your positive example will impact not only your boss, but also others around you.

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■Sell your issue. To get what you want in your organization, you have to ask for it, and you have to sell your boss on the issue. This isn’t manipulation, but a legitimate set of techniques to make it easier for your boss to understand and accept your ideas. Don’t expect your boss to understand your issue automatically. Learn how to present it, and, where appropriate, involve other individuals in the selling effort. With some bosses, you’ll be more successful selling your issue in private versus trying to convince them in a public setting. And of course, pay attention to your timing, making sure you present the issue when other more pressing issues are not consuming your boss’s attention.

■Focus on what you can change. Although you might not be able to control your boss, you can control your attitude. A shift in attitude, or the way you see things, can change your level of job satisfaction.

■Give positive reinforcement. Everyone in an organization needs support. You don’t have to be a schmoozer to praise and appreciate another person’s accomplishments. Some experts even suggest that the most important objective for employees is to appear supportive of their bosses. Empathize with your boss and express appreciation when it can honestly be conveyed. This will help your boss do his or her job better. And making your boss a better boss has obvious ramifications for you as well.

Now that I’ve given you all these great guidelines for managing your boss, I’m willing to admit that some bosses are simply impossible to work for. They are mercurial, dominating, overbearing, and irascible. Nothing is more anxiety-provoking than knowing that your job security and career advancement depend on your relationship with someone like that. Should that happen to you, the key is to expand your power base both within and outside the organization by building relationships with other people. This can help you make a lateral move within the organization or find a new job in a different company.

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Building Strategic Alliances

So, how do you build strategic alliances within your own company without antagonizing your boss? Bob, a test engineer, solved this career dilemma by offering to represent his division in an interdepartmental forum. This looked like a win-win scenario. His overworked boss was happy to let Bob shoulder this particular responsibility. And Bob was able to develop greater exposure and credibility in the organization. After giving a presentation at one meeting, Bob was approached by another manager and offered a job in another division, which he graciously accepted. Although his boss was sorry to lose his employee, his boss never knew how much Bob disliked him. As a result of this strategy, Bob was able to salvage his career with the company without burning any bridges with his former boss—another form of a win-win situation.

Would a Lateral Move Help Your Career?

Making a lateral move from one position to another within the same company (that is similar in pay and status) is often an effective way to stimulate career growth. According to Beverly Kaye, a Pennsylvaniabased career expert and author of Up Is Not the Only Way (2002, Davies-Black), moving across divisions in your company can mean adding contacts. It also can help you gain perspectives you might never have gained by simply moving up. In many cases, lateral moves solve relocation dilemmas for employees who do not want to move to new locations.

When you choose to make a lateral move, however, you must also be aware of the perception that this creates. You don’t want to send the message that you are not a team player or that you are not ambitious. On the other hand, it makes perfect sense to tell a new manager that you are interested in expanding your knowledge and skills. This demonstrates that you are a motivated and enthusiastic learner. But it’s still up to them whether they have the time and patience to train you to work for and with them.

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