Can You Talk To Your Boss?

Do you know how you are performing? If you cannot answer yes to either of these questions, you have a communication problem with your boss. More likely, your boss does not know how to effectively communicate with you.

Remember, your boss has the ultimate responsibility as far as how you and s/he communicate. It is not really your deal. However, since management typically does not do well with communication, you may not experience the level you DESERVE. It is also helpful for you to initiate communication with your boss as well.

You should expect feedback that is helpful. Your boss should provide you with the mentoring that you need. I do not talk much about my direct experience in this blog; however, when it comes to communicating I am going to make an exception.

For seven years I had a manager who mentored me in many areas. The most important areas were emotional intelligence and communication. I will save emotional intelligence for another blog. Communication is the hot spot for this blog. He taught me to setup quarterly sessions with my employees and have an “open” discussion. I learned to ask people how they were doing, how they felt about the company, how I could help them, etc. I call them “one-on-ones”.

Any manager with experience and training has been taught how to communicate.

Rule for Managers:

=> When communicating, respect the employee’s time and space.

Rule for Employees:

=> You should always know where you stand with your boss. You should feel confident in your professional performance and understand how you are perceived.

Folks, get your boss to talk. Find out what s/he thinks you are performing. Don’t wait until some artificial corporate review. If you do not know now, ask questions.

Managers, talk to your people. Treat them right.

If you do not know how your boss feels about you, you need to go into work tomorrow and ask for some one-on-one time with your boss. Ask your boss directly. You NEED appropriate communication.

Do you know how you are performing? Do you know how your performance is perceived?

If not, it is time to find out. If you do not act on this, you are making your life in the working world so much harder than it needs to be.

Be good to yourself.