It happens quite often. Just when you are trying to speak to the boss, he seems transfixed by a spot on the wall, or a text message. On other occasions, he may even walk right past you and the really important thing you needed to discuss, never gets done. If you want to make sure you are heard, there are ways to do just that..
Spare him the details
The boss is not a Post-It note. Employees often make the mistake of keeping their seniors updated on every call and every step taken, even when the task is far from being complete. “Keep the talk structured and, if possible, mail him beforehand on the issues you would need his time for,” says Sunil Goel, executive director of Global Hunt . “Otherwise, a knock on his door every two minutes may not be met with an invitation to enter.”
It’s all about alignment
Besides understanding your own KRAs, it is essential for you to understand what the boss’ visions and goals are. Align your points of view in such a way that when you start talking, he thinks you understand him perfectly. “Do his presentations, but make him the hero,” says TV Mohandas Pai, director and head, human resources at Infosys.
Industry experts also say employees should also realise their boss’ style of working. If he has a holistic view of things, try and make him see the big picture. If he is process oriented, you might be better off sharing the road map, rather than the destination.
The boss is no sieve
Rambling away and expecting the boss to filter the information and get your point is a no-no. Salil Godikai, chief strategy officer of MindTree recalls how a junior often showed up for meetings with sheets of blank paper. But during the discussions, he would only jot down one word, in large, bold print, on each of the sheets.
“These words were the most important point of the discussion, and the junior made sure his seniors always remembered them well after the meeting was over.” Also, timing is everything. In some cases, Saturday afternoons may be the best time to approach the boss, since that may be a more relaxed day at work. But don’t be a weekend pest.
The boss ain’t Mr Fix-It
Industry watchers say the boss doesn’t always have a magic wand to make your problems disappear. So the next time you approach him about an issue, go with some possible solutions. The boss will know you’ve given the matter some thought.
He just may be listening
Don’t always underestimate your boss’ listening abilities. Advith Dhuddu, founder and CEO of Alivenow , a social media management company, was tuned in to an afternoon radio show when he suddenly heard one of his subordinates discussing her work problems with the agony aunt.
“I later called her for a one-on-one meeting,” says Dhuddu. “She didn’t know I had heard her on the radio, but managed to tell me about her office problems in a more relaxed setting.” Dhuddu is glad he accidentally caught the programme, otherwise he would never have known about his junior’s problems
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