Have you ever felt like your job description is just a vague outline of what you actually do? You’re not alone. In fact, understanding your role at work often goes beyond what’s written on paper. Let’s face it, your real job description is more about pleasing your boss than anything else. But fret not, because I’ve got the inside scoop on how to decipher your boss’s mind in seven key points. So grab a cup of coffee and let’s dive in!
Your Boss = Your Customer
Picture this: you walk into a car dealership with your five-year-old in tow. Now, your kiddo isn’t the one buying the car, but if the dealer ignores or mistreats them, you’re out of there faster than you can say “minivan.” Similarly, in the workplace, your boss is your customer. They might not directly pay your salary, but they sure have a say in whether you keep that pay-check coming. So, in the Company of One philosophy, every person who impacts your pay is a customer, including your boss, their boss, and even your coworkers and vendors.
Know Your Customer / Boss (7 Steps)
Take stock of who holds the keys to your pay-check. It could be one person or a whole squad. Once you’ve identified them, focus on the key players—likely your boss and their boss. Think of them all as bosses because, in this game, boss equals customer.
- What’s their role in the organization? How does their job affect the company’s bottom line?
- How do you interact with them? Do you provide a service, or do they assign tasks to you?
- What do they value? What makes them tick?
- What keeps them up at night? Understanding their concerns helps you anticipate their needs.
- What are their top priorities? Align your work with their goals.
- How do they define success? Knowing what victory looks like for them is key.
- And most importantly, how can you make their life easier? Because happy bosses make for a happier you.
Let’s Dig a Little Deeper
1. What’s their role in the organization? How does their job affect the company’s bottom line?
Understanding your boss’s role in the organization gives you insight into their responsibilities and how they contribute to the company’s success. For instance, if your boss is the sales director, their primary objective is to drive revenue by closing deals and expanding the customer base. Your boss’s performance directly impacts the company’s financial health, as increased sales lead to higher profits. Therefore, aligning your efforts to support their sales initiatives, such as providing excellent customer service or streamlining administrative tasks, directly contributes to the company’s bottom line.
2. How do you interact with them? Do you provide a service, or do they assign tasks to you?
Your interaction with your boss can vary depending on the nature of your role and their management style. Below I discuss two examples to give you an idea how you can learn more about your boss based on whether you are providing a service to your boss or if your role is task based.
Service Based: For example, if you work in marketing, your boss might rely on you to develop advertising campaigns and analyse market trends. In this case, understanding your boss’s priorities involves aligning your efforts with their strategic objectives. Put differently, you provide a service by leveraging your expertise to support their strategic objectives. Here’s how you can gain insight into your boss’s priorities in this scenario:
1. Understand Strategic Goals: Start by understanding your company’s overall strategic goals, particularly those related to marketing and branding. Attend strategy meetings or review company documents, such as the marketing plan or annual reports, to gain insight into the broader objectives your boss is working towards. For example, if the company aims to increase market share or launch a new product line, these goals will likely shape your boss’s priorities in the marketing department.
2. Collaborate on Campaign Planning: Work closely with your boss to plan and execute marketing campaigns that align with their strategic objectives. Schedule regular meetings to discuss upcoming campaigns, target audiences, messaging strategies, and key performance indicators (KPIs). By actively involving your boss in the campaign planning process, you demonstrate your commitment to supporting their goals and ensure that your efforts are aligned with their priorities. For instance, if your boss emphasizes the importance of brand visibility and customer engagement, you can prioritize initiatives that focus on increasing social media presence and interaction.
3. Provide Data-Driven Insights: Leverage your expertise in market research and data analysis to provide valuable insights that inform your boss’s decision-making process. Conduct thorough market analysis, competitor research, and consumer surveys to gather relevant data and identify trends that can guide marketing strategies. Present your findings to your boss in a clear and concise manner, highlighting key opportunities and potential challenges. By offering data-driven insights, you empower your boss to make informed decisions that support their strategic objectives. For example, if your analysis reveals a growing demand for eco-friendly products in the market, you can recommend incorporating sustainability messaging into future marketing campaigns to align with consumer preferences and differentiate the brand.
4. Seek Feedback and Guidance: Regularly seek feedback and guidance from your boss to ensure that your efforts are aligned with their priorities. Schedule check-in meetings or informal discussions to review ongoing projects, discuss performance metrics, and solicit input on upcoming initiatives. By actively seeking your boss’s input and involving them in decision-making processes, you demonstrate your commitment to supporting their goals and fostering a collaborative working relationship. For example, if your boss emphasizes the importance of maintaining brand consistency across all marketing channels, you can seek their feedback on proposed campaign messaging and visual elements to ensure alignment with brand guidelines.
5. Stay Agile and Adaptive: In a dynamic and ever-changing market landscape, it’s essential to stay agile and adaptive to emerging trends and shifting priorities. Keep a pulse on industry developments, consumer behaviours, and competitor activities to proactively adjust marketing strategies as needed. Regularly communicate with your boss about changes in the market landscape and potential implications for the company’s marketing efforts. By staying informed and responsive to changing priorities, you position yourself as a valuable asset to your boss and the marketing team. For example, if a new competitor enters the market or consumer preferences shift towards online shopping, you can propose adjustments to marketing strategies to maintain a competitive edge and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
By employing these strategies, you can gain valuable insights into your boss’s priorities in a service-based environment and align your efforts to support their strategic objectives effectively.
Project / Task Based: Conversely, if you work in a project-based environment, your boss may assign tasks and deadlines for specific projects. In this type of environment, understanding your boss’s priorities is crucial for delivering successful outcomes and earning their trust. Here are some ways to gain insight into your boss’s priorities in this context:
1. Clarify Project Objectives: When your boss assigns you a new project, take the time to clarify the objectives and desired outcomes. Schedule a meeting or send an email seeking clarification on what success looks like for the project. By understanding the overarching goals, you can tailor your approach and prioritize tasks accordingly. For example, if the main objective is to launch a new product by a specific deadline, you know that meeting that deadline is a top priority for your boss.
2. Review Project Briefs and Documentation: Pay close attention to any project briefs, documentation, or guidelines provided by your boss. These materials often contain valuable insights into the project’s scope, timeline, and key deliverables. Analyсe the project brief to identify any specific milestones or deadlines highlighted by your boss. For instance, if the project brief emphasizes the importance of delivering a prototype by a certain date, you can prioritize tasks related to prototype development to align with your boss’s priorities.
3. Ask Probing Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask your boss probing questions to gain a deeper understanding of their priorities. During project kick-off meetings or one-on-one discussions, inquire about the project’s strategic importance and how it fits into the larger organizational goals. For example, you could ask, “What are the main drivers behind this project, and how does its success contribute to the company’s overall objectives?” By actively seeking insights from your boss, you demonstrate your commitment to aligning your efforts with their priorities.
4. Seek Feedback and Guidance: Throughout the project lifecycle, regularly seek feedback and guidance from your boss to ensure that you’re on the right track. Share progress updates, discuss any challenges or roadblocks encountered, and solicit input on how to address them effectively. By actively involving your boss in the project and seeking their input, you not only demonstrate transparency and accountability but also gain valuable insights into their evolving priorities. For example, if your boss provides feedback emphasizing the importance of prioritizing cost-saving measures, you know that cost efficiency is a key priority for them.
5. Monitor Communication and Feedback: Pay attention to your boss’s communication style and feedback cues to discern their priorities. Analyсe the language they use in emails, meetings, and discussions to identify recurring themes or areas of emphasis. For instance, if your boss frequently emphasizes the importance of meeting project deadlines or staying within budget constraints, you can infer that time and cost management are top priorities for them. By actively listening to their feedback and observing their communication patterns, you can adapt your approach to better align with their priorities.
By employing these strategies, you can gain valuable insights into your boss’s priorities in a project-based environment and tailor your efforts accordingly to drive project success.
Whether you are in a service or task based environment, understanding your boss’s preferred communication style and expectations ensures smooth collaboration and enhances productivity.
3. What do they value? What makes them tick?
Every boss has unique values and motivations that drive their decision-making. For instance, some bosses prioritize innovation and creativity, while others prioritize efficiency and results. By observing your boss’s actions and listening to their feedback, you can gain insight into what they value most. If your boss frequently praises employees who take initiative and propose innovative solutions, they likely value creativity. Tailoring your approach to align with their values increases your chances of earning their respect and recognition.
4. What keeps them up at night? Understanding their concerns helps you anticipate their needs.
Just like everyone else, bosses have their share of worries and stressors. Whether it’s meeting quarterly targets, resolving conflicts within the team, or navigating changes in the industry, understanding what keeps your boss up at night enables you to proactively address their concerns. For example, if you know your boss is under pressure to deliver a critical project on time, offering to take on additional tasks or providing regular progress updates demonstrates your commitment to their success and alleviates their stress.
5. What are their top priorities? Align your work with their goals.
Identifying your boss’s top priorities allows you to focus your efforts on activities that directly contribute to their goals. If your boss is focused on expanding into new markets, directing your efforts towards market research and identifying potential opportunities demonstrates your alignment with their objectives. By regularly discussing priorities and seeking feedback, you can ensure that your work is aligned with their overarching goals and objectives.
6. How do they define success? Knowing what victory looks like for them is key.
Success means different things to different people, and understanding how your boss defines success is crucial for aligning your efforts accordingly. For instance, if your boss values teamwork and collaboration, achieving a successful project outcome may involve fostering a collaborative work environment and facilitating effective communication among team members. By understanding their definition of success, you can tailor your approach to meet their expectations and deliver results that resonate with their vision.
7. And most importantly, how can you make their life easier? Because happy bosses make for a happier you.
Ultimately, the key to building a strong working relationship with your boss is to make their life easier. This could involve anticipating their needs, providing timely and relevant information, or offering solutions to challenges before they become problems. For example, if your boss struggles with time management, offering to organize their schedule or prioritize tasks demonstrates your commitment to supporting their success. By consistently demonstrating your value and making their life easier, you not only earn their trust and respect but also create a more positive and productive work environment for yourself.
Understanding these aspects of your boss’s role and preferences can greatly enhance your working relationship and contribute to your own professional growth and success.
Why Should You Care?
Now that you’ve cracked the boss code, you’re armed with invaluable insights into what matters most. You know which tasks are non-negotiable and which can wait until tomorrow (or never). Plus, by understanding what drives your boss, you can position yourself as their go-to problem solver and ally. It’s a win-win situation!
- You’re crystal clear on your priorities and what constitutes quality work.
- You know exactly what information your boss needs and when they need it.
- And best of all, you can confidently ignore the noise and focus on what truly matters.
So, the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed at work, just remember these seven golden nuggets of boss wisdom. After all, when you know how to keep your boss happy, you’re well on your way to personal and professional success.
Now, armed with this newfound knowledge, go forth and conquer the workplace like the boss you are! And hey, if all else fails, just remember: a little bit of humour and a lot of coffee can go a long way. Cheers to decoding your boss and mastering the art of workplace wizardry!
