Have you ever worked for someone who was the opposite of you? I don’t mean someone different. I mean someone who was the complete opposite in every way!
When I was stationed in Virginia as a young Captain, I had the privilege to work for a leader who was the opposite of me in every way! He was a male, and I was a female. Also, my boss was Caucasian, and I am African American. Additionally, he had children older than me.
Beyond the noticeable differences of race, gender, and age, my boss and I had nothing in common. He liked country music, and I was not too fond of country music. I was a city girl raised in Pennsylvania, and he was raised on a farm in the Midwest.
My boss was a combat arms officer who had never work directly with a female officer. We were a modern-day odd couple. As you can imagine, our first meeting was awkward. We discussed my duties and expectations.
As I left his office, I remember thinking, “what have I gotten myself into.” Over the next couple of weeks, I watched how my boss interacted with my colleagues. While he was a man of few words, there was a level of comfort and trust between him and my male peers.
I realized that if I was going to be successful, I needed to build a relationship with my boss. So, the first thing I did was ask his secretary what foods he liked and preferred to communicate. She told me about his favorite soft drink and candy. At our weekly meeting, not only was I overly prepared, I always had his favorite candy and soft drink.
In addition to speaking with his secretary, I built a relationship with his wife. I learned his favorite hobbies were fishing and hunting. Although I didn’t hunt or fish, I would always ask him questions about his hobbies.
When it was time for me to move to my next duty station, my boss gave me a glowing recommendation. As a result of my efforts, my boss and I developed a genuine relationship based on mutual respect.
Why is it essential to have a good relationship with your boss?
“A healthy, respectful relationship with your manager can improve your morale and productivity, and ultimately, it can boost your career.”
Jim Belosic
So, how can you build a good relationship with your leader?
The following three tips will help:
- Be a great employee
- Meet frequently with your boss
- Take time to get to know your leader
Remember your boss is human, so take time to get to know him or her.
As a leader, your goal is to help the organization achieve its goals. Therefore, building a good relationship with your boss is beneficial to both you and the organization.
Mona Sutphen said, “Most good relationships are built on mutual trust and respect.”
Are you building a good relationship with your boss?
Your leadership guide,
Kim
Dr. Kim Moore | Your Leadership Guide | kimdmoore.com
0 comments