Reading
Peter Gruber's article “Managing Up” When Your Boss Has You Down”
felt so right to copy and adapt for the purpose of guiding
correctional employees on the right track for career development. It
was loaded with great advice and the more I read into it, the more I
saw a unique opportunity to apply his concepts to the correctional
profession. In fact, it was hard not to write word for word as it was
filled with reality checks inside a correctional operational and
management setting. Hence I will try to deliver his message with a
slight adaptation for the environment and challenges on this most
difficult job of being a correctional officer working in a very
negative environment.
First
we must first most of us must admit that we love our jobs but we hate
the way your job is being managed by your supervisors or
administrators. Not wanting to quit your job there are some
reasonable alternatives available to you to not only do your job but
to excel in getting it done. Realizing you have alternatives is
important for it give you the motivation you need to get up every day
and go to work. As time goes by, you have adjusted well to the job
and contributed to many core values that are important in the areas
of public safety and staff safety.
We
have all experienced the difficult bosses. Whether you are working
with a boss that is a micro-manager, bully, clueless wonder or brown
noser you must adjust your performance in order to successfully
attain better career growth and opportunities. The first step in
taking the positive direction is to realize that although you boss
can make you miserable, you must identify this to be one of your own
problems to address in order to get ahead and be successful. You have
to adjust your relationship with your boss to endure the time and
make significant career growth plans long the way while focusing on
pay raises and other opportunities that come with successful career
planning. The adjustment is easier than you may realize as the very
first step you take is to emphasize your boss's job and
responsibilities. Know how to walk in your bosses' shoes makes sure
you are on the same ideology thought track and aligns their interest
and goals the same as yours making you totally compatible to the
organization as well as your boss. Being in harmony with these two
elements assures your longevity and opportunities within the
workplace. Therefore, to have empathy is the first key to successful
planning and managing your career.
The
second step is to learn the mission, the strategic goals and taking a
proactive interest in how your boss wants or intents do accomplish
this. This means your relationship with you boss must be one of
sharing and communicating how he or she thinks or executes so that
you can better understand the strategic objectives and manner of
expectation this is realized to be accomplished.
Third
you must take ownership and show you have a professional and personal
interest in the “game” meaning you are committed to do your best
to show your respect, maturity and willingness to demonstrate your
commitment. Emulating your boss's favorite style of communicating is
very important for it establishes a comfort level between you and
your boss illustrating you are on board with the boss's preferable
communication method whether it be email, phone, face to face etc..
Knowing how your boss operates is instrumental in being in tune with
the systems in place and shows an attention to detail many bosses
admire and respect. It also builds your reputation and makes you
trustworthy of special assignments and other special duties. Peter
Gruber states that “ The more you convey through your actions that
you are trustworthy, the more confidence your manager will have in
giving you greater responsibility and recognition. This means that
you don’t just deliver problems, but solutions. This type of
transparency deepens a trusting relationship.”
Corrections
is a difficult job as it stands. Every bit of advice emulation or
mentorship is essential in building your success. Reading, educating,
training and understanding your job is important but getting along
with your boss is very instrumental in your career success and career
development that allows you to grow.
Source;
http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130509190459-101213441--managing-up-when-your-boss-has-you-down?trk=eml-mktg-condig-0108-p3
