Promotion Killers: Can’t Manage Your Boss

Your boss is the one person who can most influence your chances of getting promoted. Before any promotion offer is made, your boss will be asked for his or her input. Trust me on this one. If you have a good relationship with him or her, your chances of getting promoted increase greatly.

The best way to manage your boss is to make him or her look good. You do this by being a good performer – delivering work that reflects well on you, your department and your boss. Think of it this way. If you do a god job, your boss is more likely to get promoted. When your boss is asked who would be a good replacement – and believe me, he or she will be asked this question – he or she is more likely to choose you if you’ve done a good job and built a strong relationship with him or her.

Managing your boss is pretty simple. Keep him or her informed of what you’re working on and how it’s going. Ask him or her how you can help the department move forward. Volunteer for tough jobs. Ask for quarterly performance reviews to make sure you’re on track. Build a cordial relationship with him or her.

Your boss has a lot to say about whether or not you get the promotion you want. Increase your chances of a positive recommendation by building a strong, trusting relationship with him or her.