Want a better relationship with your manager?
Don't make this mistake, especially if you are a new hire or an early career professional
Let’s cut to the chase. Your manager doesn’t have to be smarter than you.
Almost everyone makes this mistake at the beginning of our careers. We believe our manager should be smarter than us. If they are not, why are they getting paid more, and bossing you around? This is not entirely wrong thinking, but it is a very narrow way of looking at the situation.
Who’s the best tennis player in the world today? Think of the #1 ranked player, or pick anyone you believe is the best. Or the best cricketer. Or the best sprinter. Here’s the question: Does that person have a coach? The answer, we are certain, is yes. Does it make sense that the world’s “best” tennis player would have a coach? There is no one better after all! Even the world’s best CEOs have a coach. The coach isn’t always better than the player. Doesn’t have to be.
“Smartness” is only one dimension of success. An important dimension, yes, but not the only one. There are many others such as experience, perspective, patience, persistence, emotional quotient, etc., which are also important qualities to succeed as a manager. Here are some tips to build your relationship with your manager:
Your manager is not your enemy. You are both on the same team. When you do well, your manager succeeds, so they have no incentive in seeing you fail!
Your manager’s success is yours too. When your manager achieves their goals, it means good news for the team too. So figure out what their goals and and how you can help them accomplish those.
Finally, don’t waste time showing how you are smarter than your manager. Instead understand the other qualities your manager possesses, and learn from them.
Of course, we will acknowledge there are some truly incompetent managers. Before concluding your boss is one of them, make sure to understand the various dimensions of their role, and don’t evaluate them based on a simplistic notion of success.