8 Essential Questions to Ask Your Boss to Improve Your Relationship
16 January 2015
Read by 7599 persons
Whether we like it or not, not getting along with your boss can hinder your career. But there are keys to making this relationship work as well as possible.
Many employees have difficulty connecting with their boss. The main reason is certainly their lack of confidence during discussions with their superior. Thus, according to a study conducted within companies, 75% of employees surveyed admit to feeling stressed when their boss is around. And yet, whether we like it or not, maintaining good relationships with one's employee is often a kind of career facilitator.
Fortunately, for people who have the most difficulty communicating with their boss, HR expert Jodi Glickman explained to Life Hacker that by simply asking the following eight questions, contact with your boss will be more than simplified.
1- How was your weekend?
When to ask this question:
"Even if Monday mornings are hectic and everyone has a million things to do, don't neglect the possibility of asking your boss a whole series of questions about their weekend," suggests Jodi Glickman, author of Great on the Job: What to Say, How to Say It: The Secrets of Getting Ahead on Learnvest.com. Indeed, this gives you the opportunity to start a personal relationship with your employer. "Try asking them about a specific moment of their weekend: their son's soccer game for example," continues Jodi Glickman.
Why it's important to ask it:
The more you know about your boss, the better. By learning how he/she spends his/her time outside the office, you'll know what's important to him/her. "This allows you to bond outside of simply analyzing spreadsheets," analyzes Jodi Glickman. "It gives you the opportunity not to be seen as a mere subordinate but someone who has a personal life, outside interests."
2- What is your biggest problem and how can I help you solve it?
When to ask this question:
This is a great question to ask when you've just gotten a new job or joined a new team because it will give you an overview of the work requirements you'll have to provide. Another good time to ask this question: when a new supervisor joins your department. But generally, this question can be asked at any time. Indeed, noticing that one's superior is not necessarily on top of things and making it clear that you can be a support during difficult times is rather well perceived by management.
Why it's important to ask it:
"It shows that you are someone strategic, thoughtful and who has initiative," certifies Jodi Glickman.
3- When you think of the best employees who have worked for you, what strikes you first?
When to ask this question:
This is not the kind of question to ask in front of the coffee machine. Indeed, this question is asked during a serious exchange such as the submission of a report or at a time when your boss comes to see you for a specific reason. This request can be a good way to signal that you want to improve and acquire new skills.
Why it's important to ask it:
"If you have a good relationship with your boss, this is one of the best ways to stand out for a promotion or to ask for a raise," assures Jodi Glickman to Life Hacker.
4- I'm really excited to work with you on this project. Would it be possible to have some feedback from you on this subject?
When to ask this question:
Whenever you start a new project, a job or join a new team. In short, your boss must understand that their opinion is important to you. And this throughout the project in progress.
Why it's important to ask it:
Every time you ask your boss after an important meeting, "How did it go?", invariably they will reply that you did a good job.
The best way to be sure of what they really think is therefore to ask this kind of question in advance, to ask them for comments on the file while it is being finalized.
5- I really want to close this file. Do you have any models I could refer to? (or is there someone in the company who could inform me?)
When to ask this question:
At the beginning of a project that is nothing like what you've done before.
Why it's important to ask it:
It is very likely that your boss has a very precise vision of how he/she would like a project to be conducted and if you don't have a precise idea of his/her expectations, he/she may be disappointed. "You don't need to change everything in your work when you get a new assignment. Be ingenious and ask to see examples of a job well done," advises Jodi Glickman. By asking for advice from the start, this will allow you to avoid disappointments later.
6- I'd love to supervise such a project in the next six months. Is it possible to talk about it again once all current files are completed?
When to ask this question:
When you excel in your current role and feel ready for a new challenge. All this while being sure that this new workload will not impact your current activity.
Why it's important to ask it:
"Managers like employees who are happy to learn, grow and take on new responsibilities," explains Jodi Glickman. "When the time comes for promotion, it will always be a plus for you that your boss is aware of your desire to develop new skills."
7- What can I do more? What should I stop doing? What should I continue to do? What am I doing well?
When to ask this question:
Ideally, these are questions that your boss will naturally answer during your annual performance review. If you want to have your manager's opinion at another time, you can always send an email asking for some one-on-one time in the hope that they will answer these specific questions.
Why it's important to ask it:
"There are probably many things you do well and that your boss likes, but there are certainly others that he/she would like you to stop doing without ever having had the courage to tell you," believes Jodi Glickman. Your manager will answer this series of questions without any problem and this will avoid hours and hours of coldness or misunderstanding. If your boss evades these questions and replies that you are doing an excellent job, you can insist a little with a phrase such as: "I really appreciate hearing that everything is going well, but I would really like to move to the next level and take on new challenges. What should I do to ensure I get a promotion next year?"
8- Could we schedule a follow-up professional conversation in the next few days?
When to ask this question:
At the end of a performance review or a simple conversation.
Why it's important to ask it:
It is often difficult to think about oneself or to ask constructive questions in the middle of a conversation. Therefore, taking the time to gather your thoughts and reflect on what to answer to your boss is sometimes useful. "The last thing you want is to lose your temper," says Jodi Glickman.
Atlantico.fr
Posted online January 16, 2015.
Many employees have difficulty connecting with their boss. The main reason is certainly their lack of confidence during discussions with their superior. Thus, according to a study conducted within companies, 75% of employees surveyed admit to feeling stressed when their boss is around. And yet, whether we like it or not, maintaining good relationships with one's employee is often a kind of career facilitator.
Fortunately, for people who have the most difficulty communicating with their boss, HR expert Jodi Glickman explained to Life Hacker that by simply asking the following eight questions, contact with your boss will be more than simplified.
1- How was your weekend?
When to ask this question:
"Even if Monday mornings are hectic and everyone has a million things to do, don't neglect the possibility of asking your boss a whole series of questions about their weekend," suggests Jodi Glickman, author of Great on the Job: What to Say, How to Say It: The Secrets of Getting Ahead on Learnvest.com. Indeed, this gives you the opportunity to start a personal relationship with your employer. "Try asking them about a specific moment of their weekend: their son's soccer game for example," continues Jodi Glickman.
Why it's important to ask it:
The more you know about your boss, the better. By learning how he/she spends his/her time outside the office, you'll know what's important to him/her. "This allows you to bond outside of simply analyzing spreadsheets," analyzes Jodi Glickman. "It gives you the opportunity not to be seen as a mere subordinate but someone who has a personal life, outside interests."
2- What is your biggest problem and how can I help you solve it?
When to ask this question:
This is a great question to ask when you've just gotten a new job or joined a new team because it will give you an overview of the work requirements you'll have to provide. Another good time to ask this question: when a new supervisor joins your department. But generally, this question can be asked at any time. Indeed, noticing that one's superior is not necessarily on top of things and making it clear that you can be a support during difficult times is rather well perceived by management.
Why it's important to ask it:
"It shows that you are someone strategic, thoughtful and who has initiative," certifies Jodi Glickman.
3- When you think of the best employees who have worked for you, what strikes you first?
When to ask this question:
This is not the kind of question to ask in front of the coffee machine. Indeed, this question is asked during a serious exchange such as the submission of a report or at a time when your boss comes to see you for a specific reason. This request can be a good way to signal that you want to improve and acquire new skills.
Why it's important to ask it:
"If you have a good relationship with your boss, this is one of the best ways to stand out for a promotion or to ask for a raise," assures Jodi Glickman to Life Hacker.
4- I'm really excited to work with you on this project. Would it be possible to have some feedback from you on this subject?
When to ask this question:
Whenever you start a new project, a job or join a new team. In short, your boss must understand that their opinion is important to you. And this throughout the project in progress.
Why it's important to ask it:
Every time you ask your boss after an important meeting, "How did it go?", invariably they will reply that you did a good job.
The best way to be sure of what they really think is therefore to ask this kind of question in advance, to ask them for comments on the file while it is being finalized.
5- I really want to close this file. Do you have any models I could refer to? (or is there someone in the company who could inform me?)
When to ask this question:
At the beginning of a project that is nothing like what you've done before.
Why it's important to ask it:
It is very likely that your boss has a very precise vision of how he/she would like a project to be conducted and if you don't have a precise idea of his/her expectations, he/she may be disappointed. "You don't need to change everything in your work when you get a new assignment. Be ingenious and ask to see examples of a job well done," advises Jodi Glickman. By asking for advice from the start, this will allow you to avoid disappointments later.
6- I'd love to supervise such a project in the next six months. Is it possible to talk about it again once all current files are completed?
When to ask this question:
When you excel in your current role and feel ready for a new challenge. All this while being sure that this new workload will not impact your current activity.
Why it's important to ask it:
"Managers like employees who are happy to learn, grow and take on new responsibilities," explains Jodi Glickman. "When the time comes for promotion, it will always be a plus for you that your boss is aware of your desire to develop new skills."
7- What can I do more? What should I stop doing? What should I continue to do? What am I doing well?
When to ask this question:
Ideally, these are questions that your boss will naturally answer during your annual performance review. If you want to have your manager's opinion at another time, you can always send an email asking for some one-on-one time in the hope that they will answer these specific questions.
Why it's important to ask it:
"There are probably many things you do well and that your boss likes, but there are certainly others that he/she would like you to stop doing without ever having had the courage to tell you," believes Jodi Glickman. Your manager will answer this series of questions without any problem and this will avoid hours and hours of coldness or misunderstanding. If your boss evades these questions and replies that you are doing an excellent job, you can insist a little with a phrase such as: "I really appreciate hearing that everything is going well, but I would really like to move to the next level and take on new challenges. What should I do to ensure I get a promotion next year?"
8- Could we schedule a follow-up professional conversation in the next few days?
When to ask this question:
At the end of a performance review or a simple conversation.
Why it's important to ask it:
It is often difficult to think about oneself or to ask constructive questions in the middle of a conversation. Therefore, taking the time to gather your thoughts and reflect on what to answer to your boss is sometimes useful. "The last thing you want is to lose your temper," says Jodi Glickman.
Atlantico.fr
Posted online January 16, 2015.
