How to Improve an Employee Boss Relationship

Trying to improve your relationship with your boss can be as challenging as trying to mend a broken marriage. If you have the desire, the results can be equally rewarding. Make it an important part of your job to get along with your boss, and you won't even have to lose your self respect to do it.

Instructions

1. Understand that everyone is human, even your boss. Look at your relationship with your boss and see where you may have been at fault in making the relationship rocky.

2. Talk with your boss. If you have an informal relationship on the job with your boss, corner her at a convenient time and talk about the bad relationship between you two. You may be surprised to find that it was all based on a misunderstanding. Be prepared though; your boss may have some unflattering things to say about you. Make an effort not to react if she does this.

3. Ask your boss how you can make the relationship between you two better. If he tells you that there's nothing you can do, think about transferring to another department. If this is impossible, go to his superiors and tell them what's happened. If there's no one you can go to above your boss, consider finding a new job. However, if you're close to a retirement or a buy-out, realize that this might just be a way of forcing you to quit.

4. Come in early and leave late. Make sure your tasks are proceeding on a timely basis. Don't fawn over your boss, though, as that will get you nowhere. Don't give your boss any ammunition.

5. If your boss gives you a compliment or a good write up, this is the time to thank her. Don't be overly gracious, but let your boss know you appreciate kind words from her.

6. Evaluate how much your boss really interfaces with you, and how much control he has over you. Sometimes we give people power over us that they really don't have. If you work for a large company and your boss really can't fire you without sufficient cause, then understand this and treat that boss as just another nuisance on the job. If you've tried everything and failed to improve your relationship with your boss, give it less importance. Don't make it the focus of your working hours.

7. Understand that if this relationship has recently gone sour, your boss may have other things on his mind and he might just be taking them out on you. If you have recently slacked off on things, try to fix those areas. If nothing has changed and your work is as good as it always was, then maybe it's not you that needs an attitude adjustment.

8. Remember that if you work for a large corporation, they have employee assistance people that could possibly help you work things out with your boss. If you work for a small outfit, you may not have much to lose by finding another place to work. Try being friendly with your boss and give it some time. If that doesn't work after awhile, and you don't have a lot to lose, maybe you should find another job.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring up some good points about your work and your accomplishments when you talk with your boss. Have your "talking points" set before talking it out with your boss.

• Tell your boss the things you admire about her. Don't make things up. If there's nothing there to admire, you won't be helping your situation. Usually you can find some good things to say about anyone. Try this only if you can be sincere about it.

• Don't become confrontational when talking with your boss. This will only make things worse.

Resources

• The website Getting Along With Your Boss and Co-Workers that can help you mend your relationship.
• Find information to getting along with supervisors at MSN's Career Builder.