Want to score some brownie points with your boss, but don't want to be a brown-noser? Here are some tips for sucking up effectively.
Hey, there is no way around it – Sucking up works. You see it all the time, the person that always seems to be on your boss's good side is the one that ends up with the promotions. If you are looking to move up in your career or earn more money, and you don't want to have to look for a new job with a different company, the best way to do it is to get a promotion or a raise at your current job.
Sucking up to your boss takes a little bit of time and it can feel uncomfortable at first. Just remember that it is your career, if you don't toot your own horn from time to time, who will? Of course, the trick to sucking up successfully is to do it in a way that doesn't immediately make the boss think of you as a brown-noser and a “yes man”. Sucking up doesn't have to be insincere. Think of it as a way to show your boss what a great employee you are and demonstrate that you are ready to take on more responsibility.
Here are some tips for sucking up successfully:
- Keep your ear to the ground – Keep up with what is going on in your industry. If you can be the first one to fill your boss in on new things that are happening outside of the office, you'll show your boss that you are invested in the success of the company. Subscribe to the RSS feeds of the leading industry specific blogs and follow some industry leader(s) on Twitter. Keeping informed of what is going on will make you a better employee, more skilled in your field and will score brownie points with the boss.
- Ask your boss to have coffee with you – In the middle of the work day, a cup of coffee is almost always welcomed. Ask your boss to coffee and use the time it takes to walk over to the coffee shop, break room or cafeteria to talk about a project, a shared interest or just pleasant chit-chat about something that is going on within your industry.
- Speak up – When your boss asks your work group for ideas on how to approach a certain problem or issue, or just wants to get some ideas and suggestions about a project, speak up. Don't worry that you'll be judged for not coming up with the perfect answer. Sometimes, it's enough just to start the conversation, because your ideas can be the catalyst for discussion or great brainstorming.
- Keep your emotions in check – Always try to have a positive attitude. It will get you further in life than any other skill. Keep a smile on your face at work and try hard to keep frustrations from turning into anger. As much as you can, leave your emotions at the door. Business is business and your boss will notice and appreciate the people who have a can-do attitude.
- Get to work early and be willing to stay a little later – Think about changing your morning routine so that you can get to work 15 minutes earlier than you do now. When your team is working on a big project or is dealing with a heavy work load, be willing to stay late and help get it done. Your willingness to help and your ability to be a team player won't go unnoticed.
What other things do you think would help impress a boss? Let me know in the comments.
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By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for ManhattanJobsBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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