3 Things Your New Boss Won't Tell You (But, I Will)
Originally published by J.T. O'Donnell on LinkedIn: 3 Things Your New Boss Won't Tell You (But, I Will)
If you're in a new job, or thinking about switching jobs, then I want to give you the inside track on three things your manager won't tell you directly, but really wants you to know and understand.
1) "I hired you to make my life easier." Managers hire people to solve problems and alleviate pain. Your job is about creating value. The best value you can provide to your boss is when you make his/her life easier by taking work off their plates. Try to anticipate the needs of your boss and save time and money whenever you can. The more you can eliminate headaches for your boss, the more appreciated you will become.
2) "I'm praying you aren't one of those impatient types that needs constant praise and a promotion every six months to stay engaged." Managers need to see you can prove yourself without needing excessive positive reinforcement. That's not to say you shouldn't make it a point to show your boss how you've been adding increasing value over time. There's just a right way and wrong way to do it. The right way makes your boss want to give you a raise so you won't leave. The wrong way makes your boss expect 10X as much work for the increase in pay. The art of personal branding is about marketing yourself without your boss knowing it.
3) "I hope you quickly assimilate yourself into the team so we don't lose any productivity." It doesn't matter how skilled you are or how much previous experience you have, if you can't get along with the existing team members, you won't last. They were all there working well together long before you came along. It's on YOU to build relationships with your teammates so you can earn their trust and respect. The sooner, the better.
The Secret To Not Failing Your New Boss? Onboard Yourself!
The best way to make sure you meet and exceed the expectations of your new boss is to build out a proactive onboarding plan. "Onboarding" is the process of successfully integrating yourself into the team you work on. It's also about embracing and connecting with the company's corporate culture. When you onboard yourself you are taking control of this process. Instead of hoping your employer will guide you, you are smart enough to realize you should guide yourself. After all, they are paying you to do a job - and getting to a point where you are successful is part of what that compensation is for.
Don't risk failing your new employer because you didn't consider the best way to onboard yourself. Invest some time in self-onboarding resources to help you transition into your new position with confidence and success. Your boss will thank you for it!
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