Figuring out how to impress your boss can be tough. On the one hand, you want to capture their attention and make them consider you for any promotions or bonuses you might have coming your way. On the other hand, you don’t want to appear desperate or look like a suck-up to your colleagues.
The good news is that it’s definitely possible to capture the attention of any business leaders and supervisors responsible for making a difference to your job. The bad news is you’re going to have to put a little work in.
Here are some quick and simple steps you can take to improve your chances of having the right impression on your boss.
Get to Know Them
We’re not saying you should take your boss out for drinks, but you should be paying attention to their values and expectations.
It’s hard to impress someone if you don’t know what matters most to them, so watch your boss for signs of what they like or dislike.
You’re specifically looking for things that make your boss unhappy or cause them to be unimpressed with a colleague, so you can avoid those issues yourself.
You’ll also want to pay attention to anything that gets extra recognition, like punctuality or attention to detail. Make a note of the things that really make other people stand out to the person in charge.
Pick up the Slack
Picking up the slack doesn’t have to mean that you’re constantly doing other people’s jobs for them. While you can still have work/life balance and say no to things that you don’t want to do, you could also be looking for opportunities to go above and beyond.
When your boss asks for someone to volunteer for a specific task, or looks for someone to help out with something, be the first to raise your hand.
You’ll probably be spending more time working on things than you’d like but being willing to work harder will definitely grab the boss’s attention.
It’s also worth doing the little things, like helping team members when they’re behind, fetching coffee from time to time, and helping to keep things in their proper place.
Commit to Learning
It’s hard to be impressed by someone who acts like they know everything. Being eager to learn at work is part of having a positive attitude about your current skills and your future.
Showing that you’re willing to focus on gaining additional skills will prove to your boss that you’re not afraid of a challenge.
It’s also a chance for you to prove you’re capable of more than just the job you have now.
Regularly invest in opportunities to learn new skills and volunteer for chances to develop your knowledge in things that might be valuable to your boss, like leadership skills or time management.
Be a Team Player
While always being the person at the top of the pile is a good way to get attention, it can also make you look conniving and difficult to work with. You want to stand out as a leader and someone capable of independent work, but it’s also important to be a team player.
Commit to helping your peers out whenever they need extra assistance and stand up for your team whenever you can.
Support the people you work with and always treat them with respect. Not only will you make better friends this way, who can help you to reach your goals, but you’ll show your boss you have the best interests of the company in mind.
Take Responsibility and Be Honest
Although you might think a mistake will set you up for failure when you’re trying to impress your boss, the reality is that most managers understand their people are only human.
The worst thing you can do if something goes wrong in your career is try to sweep the issue under the rug or pin it on someone else.
Taking responsibility for your actions and committing to learning from them shows you’re an honest, trustworthy, and reliable person.
We all make mistakes, but it’s difficult to feel respect for someone who just can’t admit they’ve done something wrong. Owning up to your errors shows integrity and bravery. It’s also a chance for you to stand up and suggest solutions to the problem.
Impressing your boss might seem like a challenge, but once you learn how to demonstrate the values your manager holds close to heart, you’ll be on the right track.
Have passion for your job and commit to the work you do. Even if it’s not your dream job, showing you’re invested is a great way to make your boss feel like you’re a great hire.