7 Questions that Will Get Your Boss to Love You

A dear friend and colleague once shared a secret toplayer who pitches in for the department's benefit. Ask
his success. Upon waking each morning, Ed Oakley,yourself: How can I make sure everyone benefits
CSP, asks himself, "What question should I be runningfrom my thought or idea? Then follow through. Your
on today?" Ed uses that simple question to trigger hisboss will appreciate the initiative you take to create
mind to reflect on his potential and frame his thoughtssolutions to your department's problems.6. Am I giving
for the day ahead.In my work as a performancemy boss what he needs to succeed? As a young
consultant to the top executives in the leisure industrymanager, I frequently found myself working
today, I've seen firsthand how a simple tool, like askingside-by-side with my staff at the front counter. It was
the right questions, can help put you in the right mindseta very comfortable place for me and, because I hated
to master the challenges ahead and to take the reinspaperwork, I preferred serving customers over
on your future-to become the kind of employee thatcompleting reports. One day, however, my boss called
gets noticed and rewarded on the job.What questionsme into his office and came unglued. A report I was
should you ask to increase your chances forresponsible for was long overdue. My response? "The
promotion and recognition? The following will help youfront desk staff needed me. Aren't our customers
to begin thinking about how you can put your careermore important than a report?"But here's the thing: I
on the fast-track to success.1. Do I take responsibilityhadn't considered how my procrastination impacted
for my mistakes? When something doesn't go aseveryone up the chain of command, starting with my
planned on the job, admit your mistakes to your bossboss. He needed the information in my report for his
immediately and own the slip-ups. Try saying, "Inboss who was preparing a bigger report for the
retrospect, I think I should have done this differently." orExecutive Director who needed it for a Board meeting
"Here's how I can make the project better next time."later that week. Customer service was important in
Your boss will appreciate your honesty and focusthis case ... internal customer service.7. What image am
more quickly on what you've learned-instead ofI projecting? Gaining visibility is crucial to getting ahead.
dwelling on what you did wrong.2. Do I know whatAnd that means maintaining a professional image at all
drives my boss's decisions? Before asking your bosstimes. Ask yourself: What kind of image am I
for input, think about what information she will need toprojecting? Are you viewed as a team player or a
make a decision. If your boss is a numbers person,loner? Someone who works behind the scenes or is a
bring the data with you to the meeting. If your bossself-promoter? A person who solves problems or
bases her decisions on people, know the players. Ifsomeone who creates them?The impression you
she is most concerned about the number ofcreate on the job can have far reaching effects-a
complaints you've received on a certain issue, havehard lesson I fortunately learned early in my career.
those numbers and specific concerns available. In otherHere's what happened: A colleague and I were
words, help your boss to help you!After working with acompeting for the same promotion. When she got the
new boss for a few months, I realized that every timejob, I became her subordinate. Chalk it up to youthful
I sought approval for a special project she would askignorance, but I had the misguided notion that if I made
me, "Is it in the budget?" It finally occurred to me toher look bad, the decision makers would realize what a
come to the meeting prepared with the budgetmistake they had made in choosing her over me. For
printouts in hand. This time, when she asked me, "Is it inthree long years I made her life miserable. I talked
the budget?" I was ready to answer her questionbehind her back. Criticized her every decision. Mocked
intelligently and give her the information she needed toher to my co-workers. Finally, I had enough; I decided to
make an informed decision.3. What can I do to bemove on. I applied for eight jobs outside the
more proactive? Avoid going to your boss with aorganization, got a few second interviews, but no
problem until you've first spent some time thinkingoffers. Year's later; I had the biggest "Ah Ha" of my
about possible solutions. That way you can foster ancareer: I finally realized that all of the people who had
environment that allows you to offer suggestions forbeen in a position to hire me were the same people
review. For instance, try saying, "I've been thinkingwho I had been complaining to about my boss. It didn't
about (the problem) and have an idea. What wouldmatter that I had talent: They had seen me at my
you think about...?" You can create positive andworst. Not surprisingly, none of them wanted to hire
powerful perceptions about your capabilities byme. Heck, I wouldn't hire me!We all need to let off
providing ideas that can help your boss easily resolvesome steam occasionally. But when you engage in
the issue at hand. Just be sure you've outlined the prosboss-bashing and complaining, everyone will notice. Pick
and cons of each so that you can demonstrate thatand choose your battles carefully and always maintain
you've thoroughly considered each option.4. How can Ia professional image. Remember, what you say about
manage my boss's expectations? To get your planothers says more about you than it does about
approved, it has to be well received. And that meansthem!As you think about your plans for the future, ask
considering carefully how, when and where to bring upyourself: "What question should I be running on today?"
a new idea to your boss. Ask yourself: In the past,When you focus on putting your best foot forward,
what approach, situation, location and timing has elicitedyou'll quickly find the fast track to career success.Ruby
the best response? How can I use this approach forNewell-Legner, CSP, draws on her 25 years of
the same success? Depending on the issue, you mayexperience in the leisure industry to offer
want to schedule a meeting, discuss the topic overstaff-development programs that promote better
lunch or add it to the agenda at your next staffrelationships from front-line employees to customers,
meeting. The key is to choose the right delivery timefrom co-worker to co-worker, and from managers to
and location to make sure your idea gets heard.5.the employees they supervise. To sign up for Ruby's
What can I do to further my organization's missions?free electronic newsletter "Great Customer Service
One of the traits common to most fast-trackers withinfor Leisure Professionals," visit schedule training with
an organization is their ability to make their boss lookRuby call Ruby's office in Littleton, Colorado at
good. They understand that sometimes the best way303-933-9291.
to cast themselves in a positive light is to be a team