The book is a short and to the point summary of working with your boss. It provides bullet point actions and strategies but goes into more detail and background when required to make the point clear. Due to the "in a week" in the title, each chapter has the name of a day of the week.
Sunday
What is a boss? A boss should be sensitive, analytical, decisive, socially competent, emotionally resilient, proactive and creative. Fundamentally there are two types of boss: the carrot and stick type who think that people generally don't want to work and need to be made either with carrots or sticks, or the co-operate and trust type who think generally people do want to work, and essentially need to be given direction and encouragement.
Monday
What type of boss do you have? To work with your boss you need to understand their type:
- Dictatorial
- Bureaucratic
- Charismatic
- Consultative
- Laissez-faire (if people are working well, they should be left to get on with it)
- Abdictatorial (leave the team to sort out problems that should really be resolved by the boss)
By understanding the type of boss you have, you know what they are looking for in an employee - for example the bureaucratic boss will want written records of everything. The chapter in the book for this day includes lots of multiple choice questions to help establish the type of boss you have.
Tuesday
As well as the written employment contract, there is an invisible contract between you and your boss. You need to be aware of what it is in order to meet your boss's expectations.
Ask you boss how they prefer to be communicated with: do they prefer e-mail, written memos, formal meetings or phone calls? Also, what type of progress report do they want - detail or summary? How often do they want an update on a project? It is important to ask the boss what they want, not just assume they want it in a particular format.
Working hours. Make sure you know if you can work flexi-time or work from home, check if you will be expected to work weekends or overtime.
Proactivity. Check if your boss wants you to be proactive, or whether they expect you to check with them before acting.
Wednesday
Impressing your boss. Deportment, dress, hygene, social skills etc all give your boss an impression of you. Professionalism, time management and a tidy desk and work area are also important.
Thursday
Getting more from your boss.
- Know your rights. Once you understand your rights you are half-way to being able to assert them, so understand your rights at work.
- If you want a raise make sure you have good grounds - more responsibility, longer hours, unsociable hours, working away from home etc. Then make a presentation - either written or verbal - to your boss stating your case. Remember to stay calm - don't threaten, don't demand. If you are turned down, don't accept a poor excuse. For example if your boss says he would have to give everyone a rise, tell him you will not disclose your salary with anyone else.
- Seeking promotion. When a vacancy becomes apparant, as with asking for a raise make your case and argue your merits for the job. If you are turned down, understand the reason why and try to do something about it.
- If you have too much work, present your boss with a timesheet showing what you have done and the hours worked. If possible suggest a solution. If there is no resolution consider moving.
Friday
The boss from hell. These come in different flavours.
The Bullying Boss may force you to work late against your will, humiliate you, ridicule you, belittle your achievements etc. If bullying forces you to leave your job you have the right to take legal action. Other alternatives are:
- A meeting with your boss in which you calmly explain your concerns and the effect it is having on you.
- Make an official complaint. To do this keep a diary of incidents and note any witnesses.
- Take legal action. Although there is nothing in law against bullying there may be acts such as on sexual harrassment that apply.
The Sexually Harrassing Boss has similar remedies. A meeting with your boss may do the trick - some people are more "touchly-feely" and may not be aware of what they are doing, so telling them your concerns may make them more careful in future. At least a meeting will give them a chance to stop. Other points are as before: keep a diary of incidents, seek advice, make a format complaint, go to an employment tribunal.
The Glory Stealing Boss again can be dealt with by keeping records and getting evidence (particularly dated e-mails, memos or reports). However reporting your boss can be difficult. Either arrange a "chance" meeting with your bosses' boss and casually mention your achievement, or send details in writing. If you do anything in writing it may be worth also praising your boss or presenting them in a positive way to offset the fact that this will generally annoy them.
Saturday
Common Problems. Not all the common problems are listed here.
- "My boss relies on me too much". Show them how to do the work they ask you to do.
- "I am better at the job than my boss". Either wait for the boss to move or consider looking for advancement elsewhere.
- "My boss is having an affair". Have a meeting and tell them you don't want to continue covering up.
- "My boss expects me to run errands for him". Explain that you can't do your proper job if you are running errands.
- "My rise/promotion hasn't materialised". This typically happens when your boss says "if only we can do X you can have a raise/promotion". Of course "X" happens and you don't get your raise/promotion. Things to do: make the promise explicit - ask exactly what the raise will be, what the promotion will be, when will it happen etc; put it in writing - make sure there is a written record of the promise; follow-up - once "X" has happened, ask for what was promised.
©John Mann, 2000