The manager of an office or division often has a particular way that he or she likes to run their department. You should take the time to find out what things the Manager really likes and dislikes from their employees.
It is very important that you understand what will get you in trouble. For example, if a problem was to arise in the office you should know if the Manager would want you to respond to the instance and take care of the problem immediately or if he or she would rather want you to wait and speak to them before making decisions.
Your business relationship with your Manager may to get to a point where they feel very comfortable with the ways that you handle business and they may feel comfortable with you making decisions in their absence. You should be sure that you are in that place before you begin making changes or agreeing to things without your Managers consent.
If your boss makes a decision that you feel may not be the right one, you can make your objections known but you must do it with respect. Do not challenge the decision made by your boss. You should simply suggest an alternative to the decision that was made. It is all in how you phrase the suggestion.
If your boss feels as if you are arguing with his decision or that you have no faith in the outcome this may put unnecessary strain on the business relationship. You can avoid all of this completely by simply asking questions that may lead the Manager to thinking of the possible problem with the policy or procedure themselves.
You do not necessarily have to point it out, merely draw him to the thought and let him discover the hidden negative results. Be sure to keep the lines of communication wide open with the Manager. You will want to know if there are big changes in the works or if you should expect a certain scenario to play out over the next days.
Being on the same page as your boss can also provide you with a good sense of security. If you and your Manager have a good stance there is a good chance that if cuts need to be made, your boss will not have your name on the top of their list.
If you do make a mistake, which we all do at one time or another, the results may not be as devastating if your Manager knows how well you do at every other time. They will not second guess your abilities as much as if they had a lower opinion of you. You can go to your boss with confidence and explain the mistake that was made.
Your boss is the ultimate decider in raises and promotions in most cases. This is another reason that building a strong professional relationship with him or her is so very important. Your chances of moving up and getting into a higher pay bracket could be better if your boss knows what value you bring to the workplace.
