June 28 is National Logistics Day, and we’d like to honor and celebrate those who work in the logistics industry. First observed in the U.S. in 2019, the holiday highlights the fact that logistics are essential to the economy on a global level. Logisticians are valuable assets to a company and can be found in nearly every industry. (more…)
Being the boss can be tough. You have to keep up with everything, assign work, and evaluate employees. But, supervisors are still human and want to feel appreciated.
So, when was the last time you and your co-workers showed appreciation to your boss? Since showing appreciation is important, here are five ways to give thanks to your boss this holiday season.
Offer the Gift of Time
Taking the time to listen and talk with your boss is a simple way to show appreciation. Offer to take on a few tasks to help lessen your supervisor’s workload. Your boss gets overwhelmed just like you do, so showing appreciation with the gift of time is invaluable.
Open Up
Next time you have an appropriate chance, ask your boss something that doesn’t have to do with work. Ask their opinion about a news story or advice on vacation plans. Ask about their family or just simply ask how they are doing. Giving your boss the opportunity to talk about what he or she is passionate about can create a bond that also shows you are genuinely interested in your boss as a person.
Respect Your Boss
One of the easiest and most important ways to appreciate your boss is to simply show him or her respect. Respect can be shown by working hard on projects, being at work on time, volunteering new ideas, supporting your boss’ decisions, and listening attentively.
Stay Positive
Being a positive influence in the office means more than you think. Try to be helpful, cheerful, and willing to take on new tasks or projects. Enthusiastically asking for ways you can help out more at the office also shows a sunny disposition, and chances are your boss will appreciate your positive attitude.
Give Thanks
Many people have forgotten the simple gift of saying “thank you.” For instance, if your supervisor gives you a new project, thank him or her for the opportunity. If you get approval on an idea, be quick to show your gratitude. For big projects or requests, a handwritten thank-you note is a nice touch as well.
Everyone likes to be appreciated, and showing gratitude can go a long way. Start a culture of appreciation in your office, and more than likely, you’ll start to see appreciation come your way as well.
How do you express your appreciation for your co-workers or boss? Share your best tips with us in the comments section below!
Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.
Consider this – one day, you and your co-worker are sitting side by side, working on projects and getting along as peers. The next day, that co-worker gets promoted and is now your boss. How do you switch gears from being peers with someone to working for them?
When a co-worker becomes your boss, the relationship changes. To help you navigate this change, here are five tips to consider when your workplace roles shift.
Though you and your co-worker may have grabbed lunch on a regular basis or spent your free time together, this may not happen as often now. It’s best to keep a professional distance, especially at the beginning of the transition. You can still be supportive and friendly, but the boundaries for that friendship have now changed.
You may feel resentment that your friend is now telling you what to do and evaluating your work performance. This resentment may be even stronger if both of you were in the running for the promotion. It’s important not to make your new boss suffer because you are feeling negative. If you can’t get past it, consider asking for a job transfer or think about moving on.
While you two may have been buddies as co-workers, you will overstep your bounds if you expect special treatment from your new boss. Though you can remain friends, it’s important that you work just as hard for your new boss as you did for your old boss. Otherwise, you put your supervisor in a tough position that could cause resentment and a destruction of the friendship.
You should always be careful with what you put on your social media accounts. It’s best to stay professional and avoid posting things you’ll regret later. But, let’s face it. There may be things you don’t want your boss to see. If you’re uncomfortable sharing your life outside of work with your new supervisor, consider changing your social media settings to limit what can be seen.
Both of you will go through a transition phase that may feel awkward at first. Roll with the changes and help the process by supporting your new boss. An honest conversation about how things will need to change and that you are there to support them can help make the transition easier.
Change is never easy, and it’s especially hard when a former friend is now in charge of evaluating and coaching your career. Eventually though, you both will settle into your new roles and your old friendship can begin again.
Have you ever had a co-worker become your boss? How did you handle that change? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.
Sometimes we can’t help it. While we may not be the office Pinocchio, spouting lies while our noses get increasingly bigger. There may be times in our career we are tempted to stretch and bend the truth in little ways just enough to stay out of the hot seat with our boss.
This kind of dishonesty doesn’t come from bad, self-serving, or malicious motivations. It often stems from the desire to please others, even if it’s at our own expense. In the long run, these little lies, while made with good intentions, can not only interfere with your best interest, but also you co-workers’ and managements’ interest as well.
Sometimes lying can be so easy, we may not even realize we’re doing it until it’s too late. Here are some basic lies we tell our bosses and solutions in how we could better handle the situation.
No Questions Here
Remember that rush of excitement after receiving that first big solo assignment? There is also that sinking feeling when the instructions or guidance didn’t make any sense. The boss asked if there were any questions, but nobody wants to be that person who doesn’t understand what’s going on, so no questions were asked.
The problem is that if we have questions, we will need the answers in order to do the job right. If you are worried about sounding unintelligent, preface the questions with, “I just want to be certain I completely understand everything.” It’s better to clarify and do a great job than to appear competent and not meet expectations.
I’m on it
Sometimes it can be a normal workday with a full work load, then the boss walks in to ask one more favor or task to take care of that day. Instead of being honest with how much work that request adds to your work load, a whole hearted, “I’d be happy to” is heard with a giant grin.
The manager expects those who make promises to keep their word. If a new assignment interferes with other job duties, ask the supervisor which tasks have the highest priorities so the most important tasks are completed first. The boss may have just forgotten how much work is on each employee’s plate and can find someone with a lighter load.
Everything is Going According to Plan
For a while, this may be true. Project timelines and scheduled events may be perfectly on task, but life will always get in the way of even the most perfect of plans. It happens to the hardest of workers, but nobody wants to appear behind schedule. That’s why most workers who fall behind on their duties will wipe their forehead and say, “Everything is fine!” when the boss asks how the project is coming along.
Juggling multiple projects might not seem like a big deal as long as everything is finished by the deadline, but lying about the status leaves no room to act should something go wrong before then. There might be a moment when input from the boss is needed before proceeding with a project, but the lie could have kept any questions from being asked since the manager was told that the specific part had already been completed. It’s just better to be honest with a sincere, “I’m working on it.”
Little white lies may seem innocent and are often told with the best of intentions, but they can come back in the long run and disrupt the workplace before anyone realizes it. Honesty is always the best policies and managers are more forgiving when mistakes come from sincerity. What are some of the other big lies told to bosses that come back to wreak havoc on the workplace?
There are many reasons you could start working with a new boss. You’ve started a new job, and you’re ready to serve your new supervisor. Or maybe a few years into your job, the management shifts and you have to start working for a new team leader. Whatever the reason, there may be a situation where you want to start building trust with a manager.
Unfortunately, trust isn’t earned overnight. Building trust is like growing a flower. It takes time and attention to grow properly, and needs to have strong roots to keep it from toppling over. If just starting out, it can be difficult to find a place to start or know what to do. Take a deep breath and take a look at these three helpful hints to build trust with your boss.
Under Promise and Over Deliver
Too often, new employees are very eager to impress their supervisors by taking on extra responsibilities and tasks in a shorter amount of time. While it does showcase your enthusiasm and drive, you could also set yourself up for failure. If you want your boss to see your strengths and talents in the long run, make obtainable goals for yourself and aim to accomplish more.
When you strive to finish your projects early, you have the opportunity to let your manager review your final product. This way, your boss will see that you are taking an active interest in your manager’s opinions and have the ambition to create better work quality.
Be Open, Honest, and Ready
Your boss may have different managing styles; some are more hands-on while others are more inclined to delegate and expect occasional updates. No matter how your boss works, you should try to match their style. Set up a schedule of updates for your active supervisor. If you have a more hands-off manager, have your accomplishments, plans, and ideas ready for when your boss wants an update. If you’re not sure, try a scheduled 30-minute meeting with your supervisor every week or every other week to make sure you are up to date with each other.
It’s also important to explain challenges or mistakes you’ve made. Mistakes happen and a good manager will understand and work with you to get the job done. That kind of honesty can go a long way in building trust with your boss because you will be known for being honest when asking for feedback and opinions.
Go Beyond the Shift
Take some time to learn more about your boss on a casual basis. Learning more about your manager as a person can help develop a stronger rapport, which can help strengthen communication. By getting to know a manager on a more personal level, trust is built by connecting with their points of interest. Try going out to lunch a few times to get a glimpse of how your boss is outside of work and find out more about them. When the personal connection and trust has been built, ask for feedback during informal meetings. Developing relationships can create more trust with the relationship.
Building trust with your supervisor doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does take time and patience. Trust isn’t something that can be automatically granted. You have to earn it. If you follow these simple tips on how to build that trust, it can happen naturally, and you can become a better employee at the same time. What are some stories of how you and your boss have built trust?
