Job Interview Answers

Improve Your Relationship With Your Boss

April 8th, 2008 | by admin |

Good Morning Don,

First I like to thank you for all your free advice. I do think it’s
very helpful. I did want to ask you for some more help, but first I think
you need to have more details I’ll try to make it short and sweet. I did go
for an interview and they stated that I’ll probably be three weeks before
they make a decision, the 2 persons interview me said that I would probably
have an 2nd interview with the rest of the team. It is a big corporation
(Starwood Hotels) and I do have 14 yrs of experience in reservations
dept.

But I haven’t heard from them. I’m working for them now in a different
position.

I feel the problem is that one of the (big MGR) is upset with me since
I’ve been working there for approx 7 months every time she comes in the dept
I work. I for get name and she would be my boss the rev manager. I guess
she looks different all the time and there are over 1 thousand employees and
over a thousand guests it was my mistake. I should have remembered her
name instead every time which is almost 6 times, I always introduce my self
to her again, I say Oh I’m sorry what’s your and name and what dept do
you work in?

So I feel that’s one of the reasons why I never got called in for a 2nd
interview. Do you think there’s any thing I can do to make her feel
differently about me?

Thank you again for everything. Make it a great day! Kathy

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Hi Kathy,

I’m glad you are enjoying the interview lessons.

You are probably not going to change her opinion of you overnight - if
she even has a negative one of you (remember, this is your opinion of
how she feels about you).

Here is an article I found on improving your relationship with your boss
- It might help you.

I hope it helps.

Don

Improve Your Relationship With Your Boss

Improving your relationship with your boss will lower your workplace
stress, improve your career success and increase your day-to-day
workplace happiness.

If you’re intimidated when relating to a person with the title boss,
supervisor or manager, you may end up reacting to what your boss says
rather than trying to create a mutually satisfying relationship.

“It’s easy to forget that managers are humans with the same amount of
struggles and difficulties you face,” says Marcia Reynolds, M.A., M.Ed.,
president of Co visioning and author of Outsmart Your Brain! How to Make
Success Feel Easy. “I thought for years that in order to be heard, I had
to make noise. Then I learned how to listen to people so they would be
heard, and how to speak so I would be heard.”

One of the best ways to harmonize with your supervisor is to listen,
then pause to think before responding.

Here are some other strategies for getting along better with your boss.

Be an ally
“Communicate with the sense of ‘we’re in this together.’ You don’t want
to get into the ‘who’s smarter than who’ game,” advises Ms. Reynolds.
“Look at both of your perspectives so you can get a sense of the bigger
picture.”

Do things for your boss, not against your boss, because if he or she
fails, you might, too. Help your boss succeed. If you see problems with
specific procedures or projects, you should tell your boss. Then you can
fix the problem and everybody wins.

Be positive
The best way to approach your boss with a problem is from a positive
perspective. If you can, offer possible solutions. “Here’s the problem,
and this is how I think we can make it better.”

Use “and” instead of “but”
That little word and can make a big difference. If your boss asks you to
do something in a different way, don’t say, “Yes, but I’m not sure if it
will work.”

Instead say, “Yes, and this is how I think it may work even better.”
Using the word and sounds like you’re on your boss’ side instead of
fighting against him or her.

Mirror your boss’ style
People feel most comfortable when they’re working with people who are
like them. So examine your boss’ behavioral style and try to match it.

If your boss is direct and to the point, you must be direct or you’ll
lose his or her attention.

If your boss is social, ask about his or her family, hobby or recent
vacation.

If your boss is detailed, then you should be as thorough as you can.

If your boss is very cautious, think through the possible risks and
consequences before presenting ideas.

Train your boss
You can’t count on your boss having had good training or coaching. He or
she may have been promoted to a management position without receiving
the proper training in the leadership and communication skills needed to
be a successful manager. Therefore, don’t expect him or her to be
perfect.

“By being a role model, you train your boss as to how you want to be
treated,” says Ms. Reynolds.

So, if your boss is behaving badly, don’t react with bad behavior, or
you just perpetuate the problem.

Likewise, if you want your boss to listen to you more and respect you
more, you should do the same for him or her.

Share responsibility
Remember, just because your boss has the title doesn’t let you off the
hook.

“It’s just as much your responsibility to build your relationship with
your manager as it is for your manager to build a relationship with
you,” Ms. Reynolds says.