Does Your Boss Have Your Back?

by Molly Luffy

A good way to start is to get clarity from your boss about what she values in an employee. This information can be partially gleaned from really listening and observing your boss in action. What are the activities, characteristics and responsibilities your boss seems to value most. You can gain more information by having a talk with your boss. Inform her you'd like to meet to discuss your role and to make sure that you are clear about her expectations of you. Take your job description (which may need updating anyway) to the meeting and find out what it is about your job that she thinks is most important. Make sure that you have a clear understanding of what she considers to be the essential functions of your position. Perform those functions like a star and you're on your way to support-city!

Unclear expectations and role definition is often the cause for this whole non-support issue. You'd think that these bosses would wise up and tell their employees what they value and what they don't. I mean that only helps them in their efforts to create an effective department, right? But that doesn't happen as often as it should. Therefore, employees are left to perform duties in a manner that they think they should, but the boss really doesn't value what they are doing.

So go to your boss and let her know that you want to do a good job and are willing to do what it takes to gain her confidence, trust and support. Tell her that you want to be the employee that she doesn't have to worry about. Put it on yourself - take responsibility!! And I cannot stress enough - don't say - "hey you aren't supporting me." It's never star-like to put your boss on the defensive!

Now go out there and be a STAR!

Does Your Boss Have Your Back?