Doing your Job Means not always Saying ‘Yes, Boss’
I hate confrontation. But, as conflict-averse as I am, I’ve learned over the years that you need to be able to deal with a client or a boss who has unrealistic expectations, or a poorly thought-out plan.
Phil Gomes has some suggestions about how to "manage up." Where was this advice when I was 22 years old?
Recognizing what makes your supervisor or client tick is extremely important in business, whether you’re in communications, or some other field. It doesn’t matter that you’re right and they’re wrong. What matters is that you deal with them in a way that provides them with your best guidance without feeling manipulated.
There are times when a direct order is given, and prompt action is required. There are other times when you get your marching orders and realize that whoever gave them didn’t fully understand the situation.
These are career-defining moments, when you have to decide how to proceed without damaging a working relationship:
The passive-aggressive demon in me is tempted to blindly follow orders, content in the knowledge that whatever debacle follows will not be my fault.
The bull in the china shop part of my psyche clearly sees the right course of action, wants to ignore orders and apologize later, or argue for a change in plans.
The consultant in me starts with the desired result, works back to the best way to achieve them, compares that with the existing plan, and uses persuasion to try to adjust the plan to something more workable.
If that doesn’t work…
The survivor in me adds more evidence to the list of reasons I love or hate this job/assignment, and whether I have a future in this role.
In many situations, you need to develop better skills for dealing with the boss, or the client.
But some people are toxic. No amount of managing up is going to protect you from someone who sucks enjoyment out of your work. For the toxic boss, polish your skills all you want, but polish your network and your resume even more.
Tags: business, careers, public relations, corporate, people skills, jobs, toxic bosses
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POSTED IN: Communication Plans, Communication Tactics, Consulting, Entry Level PR, Executive Mindset, PR, Work
4 opinions for Doing your Job Means not always Saying ‘Yes, Boss’
Lauren Vargas
Sep 20, 2007 at 9:29 am
Would you have listened at 22?
Great descriptions of ‘managing up’ reactions. Problem if you are one of those in a toxic environment-you begin to believe and internalize the negativity. Getting out is not easy.
jon burg
Sep 20, 2007 at 10:06 am
With all the free advice the next gen of up and comers are getting, will we actually be any smarter of better? How about some advice on how to take advice and integrate it?
Eric Eggertson
Sep 20, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Lauren: No, I wouldn’t have listened at 22. Maybe at 28. Yeah, when you believe the boss who treats you like crap, you feel pretty crappy.
Jon: Right on. Integrating is key, whether you go to conferences, take courses, get feedback, get advice, etc. Also, how to ignore some (most) advice.
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Oct 1, 2007 at 4:15 am
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