10 Tips for Communicating With Your Boss OfficeTeam. A Robert Half Company. All rights reserved. OfficeTeam is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

How Important is Communication to Your Career Advancement? What you can gain: More visibility Greater influence in decision making Promotion opportunities More respect, mentorship opportunities among peers

Good Lines of Communication With Your Boss Can Enhance Your... Job satisfaction Confidence level Negotiation and persuasion skills Opportunities to keep learning Career advancement prospects Marketability

Good Lines of Communication With Your Boss Mean You ll Worry Less About... Office politics Survey: 53 percent of employees said the level of office politics in their workplaces has increased Getting fair credit for your work Your stress level

Questions to Consider: Who is your boss? How often does change happen? What obstacles do you encounter most with your boss?

Communication Is an Ongoing Process It s always a good time to enhance communication Don t wait until there s a problem to work on your skills

10 Tips for Communicating with Your Boss

1. Agree on job responsibilities and a definition of success. This step affects all others Establish expectations; determine objectives

2. Ask for a meeting to discuss questions such as: Where does your job fit into the scheme of things, based on your company s strategic goals? Have job responsibilities shifted? How will your job performance be measured? What are the processes that shape work flow and efficiency? Are you encouraged to introduce innovations in procedures or are you expected to do everything strictly by the book?

3. Always be aware of your timing. Internet speed makes this challenging Check: How quickly do you get to the point? Prioritize topic lists Create a rapport with your manager Take your boss to lunch Discuss hobbies, interests, family

4. Provide just the right amount of information. Is it a 411 or 911 situation? Selective updates Frequency/type of updates When to bring into the loop Know your boss s preferences

5. Determine your communication mix. When to call for a personal meeting When to rely on voicemail and e-mail When to shift your mix for mobile executives

6. Prepare, prepare, prepare. What do you need from your boss? It will affect your communication Every problem needs a solution

7. Be a good listener. Your ability to communicate depends on your listening skills Focus on what your boss is saying Ask questions Enhance your skills

8. Observe others. Learn by listening, watching How do others work with your boss? How do they relay difficult news? How do they get buy-in for projects? Adapt to situations

9. Consider your boss s perspective. What s the big picture? Focus on results, not process Identify changing priorities What else is on his or her plate right now? Understand the business

10. Adapt to your boss s personality. How does your boss respond to stress? What can you change? How can you approach stressful situations?

Approaching Special Situations: How Prepared Are You? Asking for a raise Getting credit for your accomplishments Scheduling a performance review Handling miscommunication on project deadlines

How Do You Ask Your Boss for a Raise? Do your homework Ask for a meeting Outline value points, avoid personal needs Have a backup plan Ask reasons why

Getting Credit for Your Accomplishments Put the situation in context Don t assume the worst Be proactive Cc or Bcc the boss as needed Highlight results, not just activity Talk to your boss Provide: Opportunities for regular communication Status reports, even if not required

OfficeTeam Workplace Protocol Quiz a) Draft a memo to your boss requesting the raise you want. b) Casually ask your boss about the company s review policies and schedule a meeting if appropriate. c) Ask a coworker about the policies. d) Do nothing wait for your boss to raise the issue.

Scheduling a Performance Review Answer: B Ask your boss Determine company review policies Schedule a meeting where appropriate Be proactive The disadvantage of asking a coworker

OfficeTeam Workplace Protocol Quiz a) Apologize for the mistake and immediately work on finishing the project. b) Say that you understood the deadline to be Friday; offer to stay late to finish the work. c) Say that she s mistaken the deadline you mutually agreed upon was Friday. d) Ask your coworkers if your boss tends to be forgetful.

How Do You Handle Miscommunication on Deadlines? Answer: B Acknowledge the situation don t place blame Apologize if/when necessary Don t discuss the situation with coworkers

When You re the Boss Facilitating communication with your own employees Apply the Golden Rule Maintain open communication Take active steps to gauge morale