THE REFLECTIVE EXERCISES

Study Your Boss

Keep a daily diary of your boss’s moods.

To-Do: For a month, document his moods and connect them to his actions.

Action: Use this knowledge to approach him when he’s most receptive.

Document his dominant work style.

To-Do: Capture his preferred work style—how does he like to manage the work?

Action: Adapt your attitude and behaviors to his style; he’s not going to change it for you.

Make a list of your boss’s preferences.

To-Do: Document behaviors that your boss rewards and punishes, then make a do-and-don’t list.

Action: Behave accordingly and try to hit his positive reward buttons.

Determine his mission in this role.

Action: Write it out—what is his view of your field or function?

To-Do: Align yourself with his mission; if you can’t get aligned, ask to discuss the issue.

Document his top priorities.

Action: Write down his top 3–5 priorities; what is he currently focused on?

To-Do: Assess where you fit into these priorities, then either relax or step up your game.

Articulate your boss’s leadership brand.

Action: Capture your boss’s dominant leadership traits—how do people describe him?

To-Do: Be aware of how others view your boss and build your own relationships at his level.

Make a list of whom he respects and why.

Action: Create a “boss relationship map”—where does he have strong or shaky relationships?

To-Do: Use this knowledge to navigate the organization to your advantage.

Assess who and what he’s able to influence.

Action: On the relationship map above, indicate whom he effectively influences.

To-Do: Leverage that influence where you can, but establish your own brand where he struggles.

Be aware of how your boss talks about his boss.

Action: Make a list of the words he uses to describe his boss.

To-Do: Be aware of this dynamic, and establish your own relationship with your boss’s manager.

Determine your boss’s primary motive.

Action: Write a description of your boss’s primary motivation.

To-Do: Use this single motive to create an overall plan for working more effectively with your boss.

Consider How Your Boss Sees You

Make a list of your strengths.

Action: Document 10–12 of your best skills and capabilities.

To-Do: See your strengths from your boss’s perspective; which of your skills does she fully utilize?

Compare your priorities to her overall goals and objectives.

Action: Capture her top goals and objectives; circle the ones you’re directly involved in.

To-Do: Use this analysis to get a sense of your importance to her mission.

Document your “unspoken” development opportunities.

Action: Make a list of the behaviors your boss wants you to work on but won’t share with you.

To-Do: Follow your instincts; start working to improve in these areas.

Determine where you rank among your peers.

Action: Write a description of your boss’s ideal employee, then rank order her direct reports.

To-Do: Where are you on her “favorites” list? What can you learn from those above you?

Plot the history of your relationship.

Action: Draw a horizontal line; place positive events above the line, negative ones below the line.

To-Do: Use this graph to study the history of your relationship; look for critical incidents.