I am no stranger to being managed. Ever since the day back in high school when I set foot in the Federal Way, WA Old Navy (now a Trader Joe’s), donned my navy-blue employee t-shirt, clipped on my walkie talkie, and learned the many virtues of Old Navy performance fleece, I have been an employee.
My first official job was at Old Navy clothing store. Photo credit: JeepersMedia via VisualHunt / CC BY
Since my early days in affordable fashion for the whole family, I have worked for the State of Washington, on a political campaign for U.S. Senate, for the world’s largest nonprofit organization, for a Seattle-based IT marketing firm, and, most recently, as a Communications Manager for a Northwest technology consulting company. I’ve even been a boss myself.
The bottom line: I’ve had a lot of bosses. I’ve learned from all of them. And over the years, I have picked up on some secrets to pleasing superiors.
Lucky for you, I am going to share those secrets with you today. If you don’t find them groundbreaking and illuminating and life-changing, well…I never claimed they would be. Winky face.
The bottom line: I’ve had a lot of bosses. I’ve learned from all of them. And over the years, I have picked up on some secrets to pleasing superiors.
Lucky for you, I am going to share those secrets with you today. If you don’t find them groundbreaking and illuminating and life-changing, well…I never claimed they would be. Winky face.
Just to keep you on your toes, I’ve interspersed the real, God’s-honest-truth advice with some suggestions likely to get you fired. ‘Cuz I know you like a challenge, you rock star employee!
Happy reading and happy working!
Happy reading and happy working!
1. Every day, show up to work on time, if not early
2. Keep a shrine to your boss in your desk, and reveal it to him/her at the exact right moment
3. Learn to accept criticism gracefully
4. Practice your eye roll with your manager while on conference calls (they can’t see you!)
5. Make your ‘yes’ ‘YES’ and your ‘no’ ‘HELL NO!’
2. Keep a shrine to your boss in your desk, and reveal it to him/her at the exact right moment
3. Learn to accept criticism gracefully
4. Practice your eye roll with your manager while on conference calls (they can’t see you!)
5. Make your ‘yes’ ‘YES’ and your ‘no’ ‘HELL NO!’
6. Always demonstrate respect for your colleagues
7. Overpromise and underdeliver. Wait. Is that right?
8. Wear proper workplace attire
9. Be sure to inform people when you think they are wrong, and exactly how wrong they are
10. Save online shopping for your lunch break
7. Overpromise and underdeliver. Wait. Is that right?
8. Wear proper workplace attire
9. Be sure to inform people when you think they are wrong, and exactly how wrong they are
10. Save online shopping for your lunch break
11. Save 2-3 hours for your lunch break
12. Remember that your actions reflect on your superiors
13. Always look over your shoulder and lower your voice before mocking a co-worker
14. Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes before passing judgment
15. Aim for the top but settle for the middle
12. Remember that your actions reflect on your superiors
13. Always look over your shoulder and lower your voice before mocking a co-worker
14. Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes before passing judgment
15. Aim for the top but settle for the middle
16. Learn to be the best at your job
17. Fake it ‘til you make it
18. Keep your skills up-to-date with training, conferences, trade publications, stretch assignments, and continuing education
19. Know who it is you should impress
20. Treat deadlines as mere suggestions
17. Fake it ‘til you make it
18. Keep your skills up-to-date with training, conferences, trade publications, stretch assignments, and continuing education
19. Know who it is you should impress
20. Treat deadlines as mere suggestions
21. Take frequent sick days and personal days for your mental and spiritual health
22. Understand how your boss is evaluated, what keeps him/her up at night, and how you can help ease his/her burden
23. Promises, schmomises
24. Follow through as if your life depends on it
25. Begin sentences with the words: ‘I’m really busy checking Facebook, but…’
22. Understand how your boss is evaluated, what keeps him/her up at night, and how you can help ease his/her burden
23. Promises, schmomises
24. Follow through as if your life depends on it
25. Begin sentences with the words: ‘I’m really busy checking Facebook, but…’
26. Pair each problem presented to your manager with a realistic potential solution
27. Establish a secret meeting place and code names for office gossip
28. Never share the credit
29. Use the last 15-20 minutes of your day to plan your activities and goals for the following day
30. Take risks—like playing online poker at work
27. Establish a secret meeting place and code names for office gossip
28. Never share the credit
29. Use the last 15-20 minutes of your day to plan your activities and goals for the following day
30. Take risks—like playing online poker at work
31. Be ambitious and know where you want to go
32. Radiate annoyance
33. Radiate confidence
34. Be as honest as Abe
35. Put the ‘I’ in team
32. Radiate annoyance
33. Radiate confidence
34. Be as honest as Abe
35. Put the ‘I’ in team
36. Help make your manager’s (work) life easier
37. Neglect your personal life if that’s what is required to get ahead
38. Pay attention to the details of personal preference and work style of your leadership team
39. No surprises—do everything you can to prevent your boss from being blindsided
40. Laugh in the face of propriety
37. Neglect your personal life if that’s what is required to get ahead
38. Pay attention to the details of personal preference and work style of your leadership team
39. No surprises—do everything you can to prevent your boss from being blindsided
40. Laugh in the face of propriety
41. Air whatever grievances you have extremely publicly
42. Do what you say and say what you do
43. Practice making mistakes
44. Learn from your mistakes
45. Know that perfection is an illusion
46. Simply do your best, day in and day out
42. Do what you say and say what you do
43. Practice making mistakes
44. Learn from your mistakes
45. Know that perfection is an illusion
46. Simply do your best, day in and day out
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Date night: 60 fun and unique date ideas for the young at heart
100 believable excuses to help you avoid doing practically anything
25 spring cleaning tips that anyone can do
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
Married to medicine: 20 clear signs that you’re married to a doctor
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Parenting: A no-fuss guide to your toddler’s birthday party for Pinterest-fatigued parents
Celebrating Women’s History Month: 10 women of medicine and science that will knock your socks off
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: No, I don’t want no scrub
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