How to Work Better With a First-Time Manager - The Muse

How to Work Better With a First-Time Manager - The MuseHow to Work Better With a First-Time Manager I have a secret for you. Are you ready? No matter where you work or what you do, working with other people will always be a challenging part of the job.Im sure you can relate- how many times have you had to deal with a co-worker who was difficult, unreliable, or overly involved?But whats even more challenging than learning how to work with others is learning how to manage up.Many first-time bosses are trying to compensate for their lack of experience and avoid looking vulnerable, which causes them to sometimes come across as egotistical, power-driven, micromanaging, or unproductive. But believe me when I tell you there is anguish on the other side of the desk, even if your new manager appears unfazed. They constantly question if theyre doing it right, if theyre liked or respected, if theyre trusted, and if they can trust you.The upside of your role as their first direct report is that youre in the position to strategically anticipate and meet their needs, which eases their stress of being responsible for you in the first place. And removing that stress makes it more likely that they can focus on what you need them to do (you know, leading your team, setting goals, and all the other stuff good bosses do). Of course, in buchung to do this, you need to understand whats currently making their job hard.I know, hearing this may have you thinking, But why do I have to be the one to do all the grunt work? And I get it, it stinks to have to be the resourceful one when your boss isnt. But like I said, your managers most likely acting like this because they dont have a good handle on their responsibilities. By offering to take work off their plate, you not only put them in a better mood, but get rid of some of that bottlenecking you might be dealing with. And that, as you know, will only make it easier for you to work more effectively and productively. As you can guess, tha t will make you look pretty good to anyone whos working closely with you.Doing this starts with asking your boss the right questions in your next one-on-one (or, setting up regular check-ins to begin with)What can I do to make your job easier?How can I keep you informed in a way that doesnt require more of your time?What can I easily take off your plate?What can I do for you that Im not already doing?What questions should I ask that I havent already asked?behauptung might seem a bit too obvious or nebulous, but the purpose is to ask them in a way that elicits usable information, so that you might then design your priorities in a way that alleviates some of the burden.For example, years ago, I could tell one of my first-time managers was flailing. He was a new parent- a stressful change for anyone- and struggled to juggle the additional responsibilities of his new role. So, I looked for ways to make myself invaluable. I took it upon myself to volunteer to do the parts of his job he d idnt like doing, the parts that ultimately kept him from managing clients, a critical part of his new role. It was a win-win scenario. I grew my skill set by taking on more work, I built a stronger relationship between the two of us, and I helped position him for success. He still thanks me for it to this day.When first-time managers are flailing, doing some of the work for them makes everyones life easier- especially yours.And, just think being empathetic, proactive, and collaborative might even get you promoted to a- wait for it- first-time manager yourself.