Communicating Better With Your Boss

Community Manager — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:33:00 GMT

If men are from Mars and women from Venus, what planets do bosses and direct reports occupy? Smart workers strive to be on the same planet, er, page as their boss. Direct, unambiguous and mutually respectful communications are key.

Too often communication breaks down between bosses and direct reports because neither is speaking the same language: expectations are out of sync. For example, the boss may want an overview but the employee provides minute detail. Or vice versa.

Here are five strategies to ensure that you are communicating effectively with your boss.

Be prepared.

Unless you're making casual water cooler chitchat, be sure to be organized before all verbal and e-mail interactions.

Be direct.

Don't beat around the bush. Direct, unambiguous communication is more professional than soft-pedaling information. Be polite, but be direct. Likewise, if your boss gives you negative feedback, keep your cool and respond neutrally.

Be a good listener.

Communication is a two-way street. You need to listen and truly understand what you're being told. If you're at all confused, ask for clarification. And maintain good eye contact so your boss knows you're listening. Everyone wants to be heard.

Be there.

Face-to-face conversations are a must for good relationships. Don't allow the ease of e-mail to entirely supplant personal contact.

Be clear.

Before ending your chat with your boss, make certain that each of you understands the next steps, strategies, etc. that you have agreed upon. This puts you on the same page going forward.

Do you communicate effectively with your boss? What tips do you have for keeping open channels of communication? Share your thoughts here and at the Beyond Folders Facebook page.

by Carly Fadako

When You Don’t Work with Mind-Readers

Community Manager — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:14:00 GMT

How many times in life have you wished you had a superpower? Leaping tall buildings in a single bound or seeing through walls? Nice work if you can get it but for those of us who can't read minds (and don't work with those who can) effective and clear communication skills are a must.

Great Expectations

Effective leaders set expectations for those who follow them. No matter your role-general, boss, teacher, parent-your underlings will not meet your expectations unless you clearly define them.

Expectations are milestones against which progress is measured. If expectations are not clear, people can become hesitant or indecisive. We've assembled a list of resources here that help managers effectively set expectations for their employees.

A tip that I found to be particularly useful was not to "over-operationalize a job" meaning don't put all of the focus on describing the steps to follow. Rather, define the outcome and let the employee get to a successful conclusion their own way. Sound advice. For more helpful tips, read the following articles:

How do you set and communicate expectations? Share your thoughts here and on the Beyond Folders Community's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Beyond Folders : setting expectations, management tools

Communicating Better With Your Boss

When You Don’t Work with Mind-Readers