Match Your Boss’ Style

To work well with your boss is to learn how he or she works. Sometimes, unfortunately, managerial preferences aren’t so easy to discern. That’s when you need to use your people-reading skills and careful observation to figure out what she wants and when she wants it. Determine what makes your boss tick so you can fulfill her expectations and even anticipate what she’ll ask for next.

If she’s an outgoing, talkative type, she probably prefers constant back-and-forth verbal communication. On the other hand, if she continually blankets her employees’ desks with memos and written reports, that’s a signal that she’d appreciate the same from you.

Does she get to work at 10:00 and leave at 7:00? Think about adjusting your work hours accordingly.

How does she dress? While you don’t want to mimic her wardrobe, you also don’t want to dress too casually when she prefers her co-workers to wear professional attire.

Though it may seem shallow to concentrate on superficialities like clothing and work hours, why not use every available tool to your advantage?