Five secrets to a better relationship with your boss

Octavia Tsibes
Productive, respectful relationships between a boss and his or her employees is key to any company's success.

While the boss' top priority is likely to have hardworking employees who fulfil his vision for the company, it's a safe bet that he'd also like to have more than superficial relationships with the people he works with every day. After all, he probably spends more time with his staff than he does with anyone else.



1. Take the initiative to set up monthly meetings

When I first started my business, it was easy to meet with each employee almost daily, because I only had five employees. So it's important that my employees take the initiative to set up individual meetings with me throughout the month. This helps me know what's going on in the business and shows me that they care about their jobs and are keeping my goals and expectations in mind.



2. Demonstrate your innovation and initiative

Every CEO or manager wants a company full of motivated and productive employees. Showing that you're excited to take on new projects will help both you and your boss be more successful. Being innovative and taking initiative shows your manager that you're invested in growing with the company.



3. Strive for open communication

How many times have you told your boss that one of his or her idea isn't so great? It's a scary conversation for any employee, but it's an important one.

There have been a number of times that I've shared ideas with employees, and they've come back and suggested - politely of course - that my idea may not be the best route. The key is to remember that you were hired because you have a specific set of skills that the company values and you can often offer a different perspective to your boss.



4. Remember your boss is human too

Most leaders come to work with their professional game face on, armed with a to-do list a mile long. They spend their days focused on moving the company closer to its goals.



5. Be yourself

You've probably heard some of your co-workers refer to their “work wives” or “work husbands”. It's usually said in jest, but there's some truth to the sentiment. Many of us spend more time with our colleagues than we do with our actual families. And sometimes that commitment can cause friction at home or resentment at work.

I would always rather have employees tell me when something at work or at home is affecting the rest of their lives than to wonder why their productivity has suddenly dipped or why they've developed a bad attitude. Your goal shouldn't be to become best friends with your boss. Instead, focus on establishing good communication skills and building trust.

Jim Belosic is the CEO of ShortStack, a self-service platform used to build engaging campaigns for social, web, and mobile.

– www.themuse.com