The Two-Minute Drill

A co-worker who has been a critic of your work in the past is promoted to become your supervisor. What's your best career strategy?

In this situation, you not only want to survive, you want to thrive. And, believe it or not, you can do well in these circumstances. Here is a three point plan for success.

Focus on your career path. Don’t dwell on the negative and don’t anticipate the worst from your new boss. Shift your energy to you! Be clear about your professional goals and stick to your career plan. Try advancing your position in the firm by getting involved and getting noticed: take advantage of opportunities to meet and greet others in the company and always present yourself as a positive, productive employee. Learn the mission, values and goals of the firm. When you are well versed in the priorities of the company, you can frame your performance in those terms and really make your value as an employee known.

Teamwork. The importance of teamwork cannot be understated. To be a successful team player, focus on collaboration, not competition. Embrace the chance to work on team initiatives and always consider the needs of other members of the team. While you’re focusing on “team”, don’t overlook the person who could be an important ally: your new boss. Review your relationship with this person and ask yourself if there may have been some merit in past critiques of your performance. With that constructive criticism in mind, approach your new supervisor with an offer of congratulations and a request for mentoring advice. By establishing a healthy relationship with your boss, you can …

Manage up. When you manage up, you empower your supervisor to manage you well. How? Communication is the key. Schedule regular meetings and use them to report to and learn from your boss. If you’re not sure what to talk about in these meetings, here are some ideas. Figure out what you need to improve your performance and talk to your boss about it. Provide updates on projects and be sure to share both the good and bad results – no one likes to be caught unawares when projects run into trouble. Ask for help if you are struggling with something and offer help when it is needed. And in dealings with your boss, always remember your career focus. By being a cooperative employee who creates open lines of communication, you’ll earn a reputation as a dependable, high potential worker, you’ll make your boss look good, and you might just end up at the front of the line for the next round of promotions.

The Two-Minute Drill - To learn more about this author, visit Cassandra L. Gierden's Website.

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