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Would it be possible to create an environment where your manager would know — right from the start — <strong>that you would not be an easy target for unfair treatment or aggression</strong>?</p> <p>There is. Like anything else, it will take some work but will provide you with as much security as you’ll ever have — short of owning the company. As you read here you’ll notice this is an extension of one of the strategies used in the Zen Habits piece.</p> <p><strong><span style="color: #003366;">Making a name for yourself</span></strong></p> <p>To take the boss out of the equation <strong>you need to establish your reputation above him</strong>. Being known throughout the organization is best, but recognition to his superiors is essential.</p> <p>This isn’t a one-time thing like finding that orphan project I mentioned in the other post. This is a campaign to establish you as a potential major talent, one that the organization’s leaders will be compelled to keep an eye on.</p> <ol> <li>Find that first project as soon as you can, make it successful and <strong>then go looking for another one</strong>. You’ll get everybody’s attention and that’s what you want.</li> <li>Network with everyone. Find out what they do and how you can help them. Seek ways to support them and they’ll reciprocate when you need it.</li> <li>Learn the history of the organization like nobody else. Become an authority on the subject. You may not fully realize the power in this. Trust me. <strong>If you become the “go-to” person for company info and history, it’s bankable.</strong></li> <li>Attend company functions and learn who organizes them. As soon as you can, lend help to the people doing the hard work. They’ll love you for it. I’ve been an event organizer and there’s usually never enough time or talent to do the job the way you want to.</li> <li><strong>Decide to avoid toxic people.</strong> This doesn’t mean anyone who complains, as there are legitimate issues that need airing. You know what I mean here. If somebody is poison and intends to stay that way, give them room and do what you can do to help others and build the organization.</li> </ol> <p>It won’t take long to see your stock improve. Your boss will notice it, too. When he knows that your star is rising and sees how others react to you, chances are good that he’ll leave you alone.</p> <p><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>Don’t forget why you’re there</strong></span></p> <p>Obviously, you also have to deliver results for your manager and do the job you were hired for. All the extracurricular activities won’t mean anything if you don’t.</p> <p>There’s more to this strategy and I’ll dig out some other angles on it at a later date.</p> <p>It will work whether you’re a new hire, or have been in the organization for years and just want to bolster your image.</p> <p><strong><em>Let me know what you think and feel free to add on below, or challenge my position.</em></strong></p> <div id="st200812275875" class="st-taf"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.socialtwist.com/200812275875/script.js"></script><img alt="SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend" style="border:0;margin:0;padding:0;" src="http://images.socialtwist.com/200812275875/button.png" onmouseout="hideHoverMap(this)" onmouseover="showHoverMap(this, '200812275875', 'http%3A%2F%2Fcareerjolt.net%2Ffor-zen-habits-readerssome-afterthoughts%2F', 'For+Zen+Habits+Readers%26%238230%3BSome+Afterthoughts')" onclick="cw(this, {id:'200812275875',link: 'http%3A%2F%2Fcareerjolt.net%2Ffor-zen-habits-readerssome-afterthoughts%2F', title: '+For+Zen+Habits+Readers%26%238230%3BSome+Afterthoughts+' })"/></div> </div>    <p><em style="color:#003366">If you like this post please consider subscribing to our RSS/Email feed (on the menu bar) or <a href="http://twitter.com/jerryroberts">following us on Twitter</a>.</em></p> </div> <div id="comments">  <div id="comments_wrap"> <h2>13 Comments</h2> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-128"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=414306260d6572ac6d68f4f2eb7b4f9e&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p><a href='http://randomactsofleadership.wordpress.com' rel='external nofollow' class='url'>Susan Mazza</a><br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>This is great advice for anyone who wants to succeed. I think people blame their “bosses” for way too much. You point out things someone can do that have absolutely nothing to do with your boss.</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-131"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=3170042d6e726df829a74556f5d99792&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p><a href='http://www.guampedia.com' rel='external nofollow' class='url'>Name Shannon Murphy</a><br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>Right on the money Jerry! Good to see you hooking up with Leo too. I’ve been through what you are describing here and see the wisdom of what you are saying. Thank you.</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-132"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=51dd978aa3a81ae3c964f1896a849c70&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p><a href='http://ultimate.zeroparallax.com' rel='external nofollow' class='url'>Name neil keleher</a><br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>Hi Jerry, nice article. I’m doing a lot of work dealing with a personal relationship that isn’t the best but I am realizing that part of the problem is the way I view the relationship or rather my other half. The more I focus on the negative the more of a problem the relationship is and the more my friends dislike being around me because all I do is complain. After one such conversation I asked myself what I could do. I realized the complaining wasn’t the root problem, it was the way I was looking at the situation. Although some friends have suggested getting out of the relationship I’ve decided to stay to see if I can do my part to make it work. Plus we have a child together so that’s extra incentive to try and make it work.<br /> I find one of the things that helps the most is reducing my mental resistance. Instead of thinking about why I dislike doing some of the things she asks me to do, if I just get on and do it, things get done, I don’t mind the doing, and even if she finds something else to complain about later then I simply get on and do that to or walk away without letting her bad vibe get to me.</p> <p>On a productivity side, one of the things that might be useful, is trying to judge for ourselves how we are being productive. That means putting ourselves in the bosses shoes and asking ourselves at the end of the day what can I say I got done that is meaningful to the bottom line. If we take the initiative so that we choose what to do and choose things to do that have some perceivable benefit, and we get them done the process of doing might be enjoyable and its something we can be proud of when finished. And although we might not want to check in with the boss every day, if we mark our progress every day, and then are able to tell them at the end of the week or after two weeks, this is what i’ve done, then both he and ourselves (or she) can see the progress.</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-133"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=0490e2e6b8aa592d60b7bfe318b9ff81&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p>admin<br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>@Susan Mazza — You’re right that too many people blame bosses for their problems. There’s no question that a manager can contribute to them, but you have to view it with an even perspective — or you become a victim.</p> <p>@Shannon Murphy — I’m so excited over Leo’s success and where this journey is taking him. I’m grateful that he agrees to mentor me a bit here and there, in what is a new venue for me. I know you’re proud of him, as was your dad. I think Leo has a lot of Joe in him.</p> <p>@neil keleher — Wishing you success in your relationship. I think you’re approaching it with the right attitude. Workplace relationships are similar to personal ones, in that the term “perception is reality” really fits. If our significant other or our boss doesn’t see value in “A” even though we do, but goes crazy over “B”, we have to figure out whether we can do “B” without it making us miserable. If we’re okay with it, then we should give them what they want.</p> <p>Just so long as people don’t come back later and say “Well, sure, ‘B’ was great but what I really needed was ‘A’ — and you knew that.” That’s when it doesn’t work. </p> <p>I say talk to people, ask them what they want and how they want it, then give it to them. In most cases, it should work in our favor.</p> <p>Thanks to all for the comments.</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-135"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=f36b7ee949b35b63a61e5fd00920db60&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p><a href='http://www.emptymindset.com' rel='external nofollow' class='url'>Stephan (EmptyMindset)</a><br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>Thanks for an intereseting post Jerry. I liked your article in Zen Habits and this is a nice follow-up.</p> <p>I think when dealing with the evil boss who lives for the sole purpose of making your life miserable, it’s for a large part how you approach it.</p> <p>Focus on your work first instead of company hierarchy. It’s all about opportunity. As long as you provide some added value, your boss can’t go around you.</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-136"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=0490e2e6b8aa592d60b7bfe318b9ff81&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p>admin<br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>@Stephan (EmptyMindset) — Thanks, Stephan. I agree with you. People who adopt the role of the victim and hate their boss are usually just adding to their misery. Your approach would make a difficult situation easier to handle.</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-137"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=49fb7357f0bc11449ce8800cb051c555&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p><a href='http://alza.fr' rel='external nofollow' class='url'>alza2</a><br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>This post is very interesting. I have to admit lots of the advice provided here would improve my current situation. Thanks a lot!</p> <p>I just tried to see if it would apply to the situation I’m experiencing right now.</p> <p>Although sometime (maybe most often) improving the communication with one’s boss, improve the understanding of eachother’s constraints and help to realize that he or she is not a monster or an idiot, the problem may not be communication. But trust, skills, legitimacy…</p> <p>In those cases, quitting is also not the only solution. I don’t have the perfect solution, but transparency while sticking to the position, helps a lot.</p> <p>I experience personally a problem of legitimacy and authority with my boss. I admit that I refuse her authority because she became my boss without legitimacy (This is subjective of course). A job that I loved, transformed into a nightmare for stupid reasons.</p> <p>Sharing a Pizza and talking about music with someone who seems not be caring about work but only criticizing and making a big deal of insignificant subjects, doesn’t looks to be efficient. Somehow a little hypocrite.</p> <p>For my experience, all “insignificant subject” as I called them are important as long as one’s boss makes them be. I try to be transparent on those and comply with what is expected. Now I can discuss about my priorities. The boss cannot not listen when all what he or she expected is fully achieved.</p> <p>Then if a satisfied boss, cannot explain to a subordinate why the priority he or she defined are fair, good for the company and everyone including the subordinate, it’s time to find a new boss.</p> <p>Depending on the business, company or country, There are few or lots of bosses who use (or seems using) their subordinates in order to get “personal” benefits or honors. For them the pizza is not efficient, but a transparent road map and defined responsibilities.</p> <p>Don’t hesitate to tell me that I’m a jerk and discuss about this! I prefer to see where I’m wrong instead of sticking to my thoughts…</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-139"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=0490e2e6b8aa592d60b7bfe318b9ff81&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p><a href='http://careerjolt.net' rel='external nofollow' class='url'>Jerry Roberts</a><br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>@alza2 — “I admit that I refuse her authority because she became my boss without legitimacy”</p> <p>This isn’t uncommon. Many managers get their position in a subjective manner and they’re not necessarily qualified. I’ve seen it happen and it irked me, too. That said, I went along with the owner’s decision and went back about my business, providing the same support. </p> <p>This is because that was my self-image. I was a corporate warrior with a goal to deliver a certain level of results, regardless of who I reported to. I made a commitment to myself to do that. It became part of my personal operating system. </p> <p>To say it a different way, I worked for the cause, not the boss. Because I delivered the goods, I was left pretty much alone — though not entirely. Eventually, the negative things piled up and I made plans to leave. </p> <p>The issue of the pizza and finding some common ground is just a tool. If I’m going to stick it out in a job because I like it, but need the boss to give me a break, then I’ll take responsibility for finding a way to do that. This situation has worked for me and others, but it’s not guaranteed to succeed 100 percent of the time. All it’s meant to do is open a door.</p> <p>As stated in the Zen Habits post, your boss may blow you off and then you’ll feel silly for even trying. That’s when you have to think carefully about whether it’s worth staying.</p> <p>You didn’t mention if the boss feels the same way about you that you feel about her. That’s something I would want to know, and bas a last resort, I’d ask her. You might be surprised at what she tells you.</p> <p>Ultimately it’s about solving problems, being happier and more productive. Part of that is a decent relationship with your boss. Until the day I walk out the door for the last time, I would look for a way to create that. </p> <p>I wish you well in your efforts.</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-140"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=49fb7357f0bc11449ce8800cb051c555&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p><a href='http://alza.fr' rel='external nofollow' class='url'>alza2</a><br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>mmmmmm…</p> <p>Thanks for the reply!</p> <p>I’ll ask her next week, after the weekly meeting we’re having, what she thinks about my performance and the things that I need to improve including on my behavior.</p> <p>It will be an interesting learning for me. I have though some fears actually. The way I imagine things, her answer will just be something polite like, “You’re doing very well, you still need to improve blablabla” The blablabla being nothing objective to work on. For example, “You’re young, you still need to understand the organization of a company”.</p> <p>There is no way to criticize someone in his understanding of the organization if there is no mistake to relate it to. It’s just a generic phrase to say “I need to criticize you somewhere because I’m your boss and I don’t know what your doing because I don’t understand it. If I don’t criticize, there is no reason why you shouldn’t take my place and lecture me”</p> <p>Anyway, I’ll ask her next week and see the answer for real instead of imagining it.</p> <p>Thanks</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-141"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=0490e2e6b8aa592d60b7bfe318b9ff81&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p>admin<br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>@alza2 — If this happens you might want to dig your heels in a bit. In a nice way, ask her to mentor you on the areas that she feels are important, whether it be company organization or whatever else.</p> <p>If she gives you a generic compliment but nothing to sink your teeth into, maybe offer: “Thank you for your confidence in me. I appreciate that. Now, I want to move forward and reward that confidence with even better performance. SPECIFICALLY, what do you feel I should work on…” (etc.)</p> <p>If someone said that to me, I’d have to give them a real answer. Hopefully, your supervisor will, too. </p> <p>Keep things fresh and friendly, but assert yourself to the degree you feel comfortable, and do what you can to get your boss to give you something to work with.</p> <p>Let me know how it works out.</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-143"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=49fb7357f0bc11449ce8800cb051c555&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p><a href='http://alza.fr' rel='external nofollow' class='url'>alza2</a><br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>Sure I will! Thanks</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-783"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=49fb7357f0bc11449ce8800cb051c555&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p><a href='http://www.alza2.fr' rel='external nofollow' class='url'>alza2</a><br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>(Why did it take me that much time to reply? I don’t know! I wrote 80% of the following text one week after the first comments. What happened during 2 months? I don’t know? And that’s the problem!)</p> <p>Here’s a follow-up of the discussion I finally had with my boss. As suggested, I asked her to have a 15 minutes meeting to ask her, what the things she believes I should improve are.</p> <p>We had this meeting right after a fight (again) where she was explaining me to have 1 hour lunch and not less even if there is not HR rule mentioning this. Her reason was “I’m your manager, so just do as I say”. The next day I talked with the boss of my boss to make the situation clear. The 3rd day she came to apologize about this and we had our 15 minutes meeting that turn out to be 1 hour.</p> <p>She explains me that if she doesn’t discuss with me about project or any work oriented subject, it’s because everything is going well. Basically the only subject we discussed about is my time management sheet because the administrative part is also her job…</p> <p>She asked me the same question: What I think she should improve in her way of working. She apologized again for bossing me. I mentioned a precise thing where I believe she made a mistake and we discussed about this.</p> <p>We decide to have this meeting once a month. I doubt it’s going to be very productive since she doesn’t follow-up what I’m doing. Last week we had the second edition of this “one-to-one meeting”. It was not so bad.</p> <p>In all, this meeting confirms that she is not following-up that much my work. She is quite vague and the only precise things she asks me to improve are actually obvious: “You were late! Don’t be late…” (Ref. on my blog)</p> <p>Did anyone read this? Why did you do that?</p> </div> </div> <div class="comment wrap" id="comment-787"> <div class="col-left"> <div class="inside"> <img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=0490e2e6b8aa592d60b7bfe318b9ff81&rating=X&size=70" alt="" /> <p>admin<br /></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-right"> <p>Hi Alza,</p> <p>Sometimes, progress comes very slowly. But I see progress in what you wrote.</p> <p>After all, your manager did apologize for her behavior. This is good because some managers never do this. Then, she asked you how she could improve. This is even more rare. So, I’m encouraged for you.</p> <p>One thing you can do is to take your work directly to her and ask for a critique. Press for her opinion using questions that require a specific answer: “How could this aspect of the project be better?” “What would you have done with this…?” If she refuses, then just let it go.</p> <p>After all, she is saying that your work is basically good. Maybe you should just accept that. As for as the time management issue, if there’s room for improvement then go ahead and take care of that as it will remove what appears to be your manager’s only concern about your performance.</p> <p>As far as the once a month meetings, keep them going and remain positive. You took a step in the right direction and that took some courage. It seems that both you and she are in a slightly better mindset right now, so I’m hoping it gets even better.</p> <p>Regards,</p> <p>Jerry</p> </div> </div> </div> <div id="form_wrap"> <h2 class="lc">Leave a reply</h2> <form action="http://careerjolt.net/wp-comments-post.php" method="post" id="commentform" class="wrap"> <div> <div class="col-left"> <input type="text" name="author" id="author" tabindex="1" value="Name " onfocus="if (this.value == 'Name (required)') {this.value = '';}" onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Name (required)';}" /> <input type="text" name="email" id="email" tabindex="2" value="Email " onfocus="if (this.value == 'Email (required)') {this.value = '';}" onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Email (required)';}" /> <input type="text" name="url" id="url" tabindex="3" value="Website (optional)" onfocus="if (this.value == 'Website (optional)') {this.value = '';}" onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Website (optional)';}" /> </div> <div class="col-right"> <textarea rows="9" cols="10" name="comment" tabindex="4" onfocus="if (this.value == 'Type your comment here...') {this.value = '';}" onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Type your comment here...';}">Type your comment here...</textarea> <input type="image" name="submit" tabindex="5" src="http://careerjolt.net/wp-content/themes/busybee/styles/blue/img_leave_comment.gif" class="sb" /> </div>  <input type="hidden" name="comment_post_ID" value="537" /> <p style="clear: both;" class="subscribe-to-comments"> <input type="checkbox" name="subscribe" id="subscribe" value="subscribe" style="width: auto;" /> <label for="subscribe">Notify me of followup comments via e-mail</label> </p> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-right">  <div id="sidebar">  <div id="widgetized"> <div id="search_main" class="block"> <form method="get" id="searchform" action="http://careerjolt.net"> <div> <input type="text" class="field" name="s" id="s" value="Enter keywords..." onfocus="if (this.value == 'Enter keywords...') {this.value = '';}" onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Enter keywords...';}" /> <input type="image" src="http://careerjolt.net/wp-content/themes/busybee/styles/blue/img_search.gif" class="submit" name="submit" /> </div> </form> </div> </div>  <div id="tabs" class="block"> <ul id="idTabs" class="wrap tabs"> <li><a href="#pop">Popular</a></li> <li><a href="#comm">Comments</a></li> <li><a href="#tagcloud">Topics</a></li> </ul> <div class="inside"> <ul id="pop"> </ul> <ul id="comm"> <li> <img class="thumbnail" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=2d9fdbf9b0ff0835a5d0bdecd06977f9&size=35" alt="" /> <a href="http://careerjolt.net/effort-vs-production-%e2%80%94-getting-people-on-the-correct-page/#comment-3420" title="on Effort vs. Production — Getting People On the Correct Page"> Success Mindset: I Like to read about success mindset.Got your page... </a> <br style="clear:both" /> </li> <li> <img class="thumbnail" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=0490e2e6b8aa592d60b7bfe318b9ff81&size=35" alt="" /> <a href="http://careerjolt.net/kids-and-working-we-need-to-get-to-them-earlier/#comment-1637" title="on Kids and Working: We Need to Get to Them Earlier"> admin: @Scott — Exactly. 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