Unlocking the Magic of Managing Your Manager

When most of you started your professional journeys you likely thought your most important responsibility was managing yourself and your work tasks. Over time, the most successful among you learned managing your manager had a much bigger impact on career success.

Trying to talk to your boss can be intimidating, uncomfortable and awkward. But if you know the right way to approach your manager, you can not only survive the conversation, you can thrive in your workplace.

In this episode we look at how to have effective conversations with your manager for career success.

HOW TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE CONVERSATION WITH YOUR MANAGER

Be Respectful of your Manager's Time

If you don't know your boss' schedule, you risk approaching her when she's not receptive. There are times when she's more stressed and times when she's more relaxed, so focus on talking with her at her convenience. Pay attention to her signals and respect her time boundaries.

Bosses are often busy and stressed. If she's busy with someone else, pick a different time to address your concern or ask your question. If possible, schedule some dedicated time to talk to your boss so you're not interrupting anything. When you plan meetings, it shows that you respect your manager's time and have her best interests in mind.

Prepare to Keep Emotions Under Control

Don't walk into an 'asking' conversation cold. An asking conversation is when you want something specific--a new position, additional staff, time off, etc. If you are emotional about your request, rehearse the conversation. Think about how your manager might respond and think through how those responses could make you feel.

The key here is not to just walk through getting exactly what you want. What if your judgment is questioned? What if the answer is no? I am not telling you to plan to fail, I am asking you to be professional and consider all the possibilities. Thinking about the results that might make you emotional gives you a chance to experience those emotions in private BEFORE you talk to your manager. You are not a robot, emotions are part of life, but you can choose where to have an emotional response to the subject.

Keep Up with Industry Trends

One way to get your boss' attention is to know what's going on in your industry. Staying knowledgeable can help you get ahead and make your conversation with your boss more impressive. And, your boss is more likely to remember the conversation in a positive way.

If you pay close attention to what's happening around you, you'll be able to show your boss that the company's goals are important to you. This is music to your manager's ears. Communicating this commitment can help you get promoted, keep your job in a tight economy, and make your opinion appear more essential to others who can help your career.

Develop Good Communication Skills Before You Need Them

Everything about how you communicate with others illustrates who you are and your feelings about them and yourself. When it comes to managing your manager, your voice, speech, and word choice demonstrate how well you get along with others. Learn to take advantage of strong communication skills to demonstrate your competence and confidence.

When communicating with your manager:

Use the tone of your voice to show self-assurance. Maintaining a pleasant tone of voice, even in stressful situations, shows that you can handle pressure. A calm tone will make you appear much more confident.

Choose your volume wisely. Projecting too loudly is never a good look at work. Sometimes we raise our voices if we're afraid we won't be heard. Actually, it can be more effective to lower your voice when saying something important, as it tends to grab and hold attention. You’ll notice others leaning in toward you when you drop your voice volume. Use this carefully at first, until you get the right volume. You don't want to become the work whisperer.

Your word choice matters. Confident people choose words that indicate they have