Think of a new boss' arrival as a reboot rather than a disturbance.
Getting a new boss can be like getting a Christmas gift from Aunt Peggy. It could be an awesome gift card to your favorite store, or it could be a hand knit,itchy, wool, reindeer sweater; but you will never know which one until you unwrap the package.
Right off the bat the first thing to accept is that things are going to be different. A lot of the initial discomfort of working under a new boss is the futile resistance to it. Even if the change in leadership is good, it is not going to be what you are used to. Early acceptance that your new boss will not fit your old boss' mold and allowing yourself flexibility to adjust will put you in a path to an easier transition. Know that there will be growing pains. Handle those bumps in the road with professionalism and determination to improve. Recognize that people draw some impressions about you quickly, and the quicker you can embrace the change and be an employee the boss can rely on the better position you will be in for the future.
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avigating unfamiliar waters when you do not know what is around the next corner can cause you to become fearful and unsure. The good news is that there are a lot of things you can do proactively to help calm your frayed nerves.
The people who make the most of this opportunity do the following twelve things
to set themselves up for success
:
Learn your new boss' leadership style.
All bosses are unique. They will have their own set of likes, dislikes, habits and hot topics. Study your manager through careful observation and direct questioning so you can model your behavior according to what suits their needs.
Understand that "different" does not mean "wrong".
Your new boss is most certainly going to be different from your old boss, unless your company has figured out how to make clones. As long as your boss does not do things that are illegal or unethical, then the change in direction does not mean your new boss is doing it wrong. Accept the change and learn to do things in a new way.
Have a little empathy and display a helpful attitude.
You may be anxious to prove your worth to a new boss but try to see things from their perspective and know they are under a lot of pressure of their own. Your new boss will likely notice your empathetic, positive, and cooperative attitude in those first challenging weeks and appreciate your assistance.
It is beneficial to proactively share information that will assist your boss to deal with problems and make sure they know the scope of ongoing work. Strive to avoid or shut down negative gossip that makes you or your team look bad.
Ensure a clear set of expectations are laid out.
Now is not the time to be shy. Schedule a sit-down meeting with your boss and have a clear and direct conversation about your job. You want your new boss to understand your goals, challenges, contributions, and needed resources. Realize that this new boss may have different expectations from the previous one. Agree on goals and expected results. Review how your boss would like for information to be shared and how decisions will be made.
Do not lay it on too thick, or too thin.
Your new boss will quickly identify the political operators and will quickly see through extravagant boasting or "kissing up" quickly. Employees who work hard to curry favor will be disliked by their coworkers and often distrusted by the boss. On the other extreme, it is also not a good idea to hide out in the background hoping the new boss will not notice you. The best course is somewhere in between. Be courteous, communicate well, show some hustle, and be proactive those first few weeks, but do not go overboard.
Never publicly complain or oppose your new boss.
Discussion with your coworkers about your new manager is acceptable, so long as they are positive, well intended and directed at getting everyone on the same page. Do not engage in discontented griping sessions about your boss with coworkers, customers, or vendors. This is a quick path to unemployment.
Address issues with a professional, problem-solving approach.
Sometimes you may have real concerns about the way your new boss is handling issues, and it is more than just doing things differently. At this point you should initiate a dialogue, but do not become contentious, quarrelsome, or critical. Take the time and explain how the issue is adversely affecting results, then ask for your boss' viewpoint. Listen attentively to the answer. Your goal is to compare perspectives, then end with some helpful agreements or action steps.
There is no "I" in team.
Do not make it all about you. The first impression you want to give is that you are a team player, which means the spotlight should remain off you and on the greater good for the moment. Sure, you want to define your role, but it needs to be in terms of helping the team out, not just yourself.
Learn your boss' schedule.
Your new boss is going to be busy and probably overwhelmed when they start. Take note of their daily work schedule, how early they like to start and late they like to end their day. Learn when is the best time to chat, schedule meetings, and when they are most responsive to emails. Learning these patterns will help you know how to get the most out of your working relationship.
Learn how to communicate.
One of the most usual sources of office conflict is miscommunication. That is why it is so critical to learn your boss' communication preferences as quickly as possible. Regardless of how you and your old boss communicated, you must adapt to the way your new boss wants to communicate. Whether it is email, text, phone, or face-to-face you should proceed according to their wishes.
Determine how fast is fast enough.
When it comes to communicating, the "when" is just as important as the "how". Everyone works with a different sense of urgency. What is critical to your new boss might not seem like a big deal to you. A quick road to penalty box is to not respond in the time frame your boss expects. Lay the groundwork early. Ask your boss how fast they expect you to respond to their requests.
Realize there may be a few bumps in the road.
It is normal to have a rough patch in a new work relationship. Both you and your boss are adjusting to a new situation. The best course of action is to quickly acknowledge what went wrong and work on setting it right. Keep all lines of communication open and aimed at defining a great working relationship.
The important thing to know is that your relationship with your boss is a two-way street. It may not seem like it is your responsibility to step up and take the initiative to make sure the two of you get along, but you will be happier and more successful for initiating engagement than if you wait for your boss to make the first move.
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