Don’t Lament “My Bad Boss Never Listens to Me!” Do Your Research!

You can’t get your Bad Boss to listen to you--no big surprise, there. However, there are times when you really need your Bad Boss to hear you, because there’s just no other way to get what you need.

Alison Green, author of  the popular Ask a Manager blog, has some excellent suggestions on how to talk to your boss to maximize your chances of actually being heard:

“Pay attention to your boss's communication preferences. You might prefer writing lengthy reports, but if your boss prefers a one-page bulleted list or an in-person chat, your preferences will have to make way for hers – at least if you want to increase your chances of a good outcome. It's important to pay attention to how your boss prefers to communicate and adapt accordingly. If you learn that she's always harried on Monday mornings and rarely checks her email, or that she rarely has much time to talk unless you schedule a meeting, you can pick the approach most likely to get what you need.

“Be attuned to how much information your boss wants. Some bosses want to hear all the background and every option you considered and why. Other bosses just want to hear the basics, and have little patience for the supporting details. And sometimes it varies depending on the context – your boss may not have any interest in hearing about all the options you considered for the new copier, but might care very much about what process you took before recommending a new product line.”

In a nutshell, research your Bad Boss’s communication likes and dislikes before you approach your boss. Pay attention to when your boss has seemed more open to employee requests, and which ones were more successful.

Now you’re in a much better to position to actually get heard!

Your Bad Boss May Not Be the Only Obstacle to Your Success

Sometimes it isn’t all about your Bad Boss. Sometimes you’re doing things (ouch, I know), that you may not even realize are getting in the way of your getting ahead.

Management guru and author Alison Green reveals a number of worker behaviors that stand in the way of promotion. Two of her “top ten” are:

“1. You don't look the part. It might seem superficial and unfair, but appearances really do count. You might get away with pushing your office's dress code to the limit, but it's probably impacting the way people perceive you and what opportunities you're offered.

“2. You're terrible at time management. Managers need to keep track not only of their work, but also keep track of other people's too. If you can't stay on top of your own projects, your employer isn't likely to have faith that you'll be able to monitor the work of an entire team.”

Even if you’re not looking to a management position, how you manage your time lets upper management know whether you’re ready to take on more responsibility (which always requires better time management)--or not.

Don’t put unnecessary obstacles in your path to success--dress the part and effectively manage your time!

Figure Out How Bad a Boss is Gonna Be Before You Take the Job!

Stellar advice from Alison Green on how to suss out a potential Bad Boss before you get hired:

“How does she treat you during the interview? Is she respectful of your time, polite and interested in you, or is she distracted, unpleasant and disengaged?

“Does she answer your questions directly or give vague responses?

“How honest is she about the job's downsides? A boss who can't imagine there's anything not to love about a job or a workplace is a boss who's wildly out of touch.

“How does she treat other employees? If you see your interviewer interacting with others during your time there, pay close attention. You might learn a lot about how she'll treat you if you take the job.”

True, true, true!