Defining a Manager
In simple terms the definition of management is: the achievement of results through other people. A manager's greatest asset is therefore his or her people. Managers cannot do everything themselves and they stand or fall by the success of their team.

It is in your manager's interest as much as yours for you to work effectively together; that fact is the starting point to your success in managing upwards.

Given the role of the manager, a good manager can be your greatest asset. They can:

1. Help you succeed in your current job
2. Develop your competence and skills
3. Make your working time satisfying, rewarding - even fun

All you have to do is make sure they do!

The 4 P's of Managing Your Boss
To make the most of your relationship with your boss, you need to consider four key aspects:

1. Purpose
2. Priorities
3. Personalities
4. Problems

Purpose
The first step in forming an effective relationship with your boss is to understand the purpose of your job - and theirs. So:

1. Make sure that you have a job description (if you don't, then construct one for yourself and get your manager to agree it)
2. Ask for clarification about anything that is not clear
3. Ensure you and your boss consider that it reflects real life
4. Review it regularly to keep it up to date

Hand in hand with this is having a clear idea of the overall purpose of your manager's job. Ideally, it would be good to see their job description. If this is not possible, then at least have a conversation with your boss, explaining that you would like to be more effective and so would like to understand a little more about the key responsibilities of their role. Most bosses are only too happy to take a few minutes to talk this through with you.

The next step is having clear, well-defined objectives - this helps to focus on the real points at issue. It is not so much a question of what you do but rather why you do it. If you do not know the answer to any of the following questions, you need to find out:

1. What are your current objectives or targets - and what are your manager's?
2. Which of these are most important / urgent?
3. How do / can you contribute to your boss' objectives

1. How self-starting does he want you to be? How creative?
2. Does she expect you to be good with people and communication or to deputise for her on occasion?
3. And what does he not want? Certainly not to be unnecessarily time-consuming to manage or present particular difficulties

Not sure? The answer is again simple, ask. Unless you are clear what you want and what is wanted of you, managing upwards is always going to be akin to fumbling in the dark.

Priorities
To establish and maintain a good working relationship with your manager you have to be effective - and to be effective you need to aim at the right things. Never confuse activity with achievement. No manager will be impressed, or easier to deal with, just because they know they are busy- it is results that matter (not least because your results reflect on your manager).

It will help you achieve your goals if you identify your priorities - and those of your boss. To do this, look at your workload as a whole and decide which activities are top priority. These can be categorised under four headings:

1. Essential tasks - ones which if you did not perform, you would not fulfil your role or key objectives effectively.
2. Tasks which you should perform provided the top priority tasks are being carried out.
3. Tasks you would like to do in the fullness of time. These are usually the things that never get done.
4. Tasks that have a low priority but which are easy and fun. These usually get done first.

Understanding the difference between what is urgent and what is important also plays a significant part in managing your priorities. Things which are urgent are pressing in their need for attention, but they may be trivial; for example, sorting out the car parking arrangements. Things that are important require careful consideration and usually take extra time to think about; for example, your business plan for the next quarter. Urgent things have a habit of looking important because of their time constraints.

Next you need to understand and manage the pressures you are both under - and to recognise that this might have an impact on how you behave. Ask yourself the following:

1. What pressures are you / your boss under currently?
2. How do you / they tend to react when under a lot of pressure / stress
3. What effect might this behaviour have on your relationship?
4. How can you help each other at these times?
5. Have you told them that?
6. What action could you take to minimise the impact of stress on your relationship?

Personalities
Everyone has different personalities and different styles of working with others. Some people have compatible styles that dovetail perfectly - others have to work harder at it. Take a little time to make some notes about your personality and that of your boss.

1. What would you say are the key features of your personality - and your bosses?
2. Which aspects of your two personalities / styles work well together
3. Which aspects cause you problems
4. Is there anything you can do about the problems?

Different people work in different ways. You need to discover what way of working suits you and your boss as a team. Ask, but also experiment. For example, should you:

1. Offer opinions openly and often
2. Only ask for help when it is clearly needed
3. Get agreements and plans in writing?
4. Take a long-term or short-term view?

The answer to each question needs thinking about. And you can add many more to this list. In some cases the answer seems an obvious yes, but in others a particular manager may not like or want such an approach. Adopt a 'horses for courses' approach and balance what you want with what they want and what is possible.

Problems
Even if you do all these things, you may still run into problems, from time to time, when dealing with your boss.

Bosses come in every shape, size and sort. I like to think that we don't have 'problem bosses', just 'bosses with problems' - and problems are generally things that can be solved. Here are some suggestions for dealing with problems with your boss:

1. Identify the problem and try to ascertain why it is occurring
2. Do not over- react, especially with visible irritation
3. Plan your response and, if necessary, see it as a campaign and do not aim for an instant fix
4. Approach it sensitively and use all your communication skills

Never automatically assume things are complicated. Sometimes, problems are caused by sheer ignorance. Something is done unthinkingly, or for good, though ultimately inappropriate, reasons and can be corrected very easily. How? You just ask.

Further information
This article provides a few top tips, but to truly manage your boss, you need a range of communication, interpersonal and influencing skills. Pearlcatchers run a number of in-company and open personal development programmes, including a one-day workshop 'Managing Your Boss'. Check out our website www.pearlcatchers.co.uk or call us on 01753 624985 for more information.