Most of us spend more time with our colleagues than with our own families. So, managing workplace relationships is paramount to feeling productive, which in turns to leads to satisfaction and gratification.
I am now reading “Career on Course”. Prior to reading it, I have heard of the importance of managing one’s relationship with his boss proactively. Scott Jeffrey Miller takes it one step further by giving it a name: leading up 🆙.
This resonated with me because while I like my boss, I feel that her professional effectiveness could be enhanced in a way that won’t hinder my progress. Don’t get me wrong. She is the hardest worker I have ever met. She judiciously takes care of the smallest details and plots the big picture. I even wrote a recommendation for her to be awarded as an Inspiring Head of Department (English) for a nationwide contest:
X has injected purpose into the department, revamping the curriculum to focus on Big Questions that inquisitive teenagers would be interested in. Instead of relying on worksheets, she marshaled teachers to employ an unprecedented Project Work approach, believing that the students should be familiar with Design Thinking principles. The students’ final products showcased their creativity. She capitalised on her teachers’ strengths, allowing them to undertake novel methods for signature programmes like Reading Tuesday and Spelling Bee. While she is unflappable, she remains humble, acknowledging her mistakes and showing willingness to learn from her teachers. She exemplifies the Growth Mindset!
Here’s my beef about her, though. Because her glass is filled to the brim with so many things, she inevitably takes a reactive approach towards some projects. Case in point: Yesterday, I was delegating some work about the Spelling Bee to my team mates - and she commented that perhaps we would want to incorporate a new colleague’s way of teaching spelling into our existing practices. Thing is, if I hadn’t been so proactive in assigning work, I wouldn’t have known that she has this intention.
Now, I am trying to push forward but feel that I have to retreat backwards because of the need to integrate my colleague’s methods into the curriculum. I’m a bit irked, tbh, because I like to do things fast and furious.
I will probably tell her about her area for improvement during my work review, since I am as straight as an arrow and soften my constructive criticism with my devastasting (according to @Coinsreporter) and dry (according to @Satosora) wit, haha. But I would just like to know how you are leading up your boss so as to derive inspiration from some of your methods. Thanks in advance!