It's Okay to Manage Your Boss: The Step-by-Step Program for Making the Best of Your Most Important Relationship at Work

Chapter 2. The First Person You Have to Manage Every Day Is Yourself

You want to take charge of your role in every relationship with every boss. But let's face it. You are not in charge: your bosses—both formal and informal—are in charge.

They give you assignments often without much guidance. Maybe they say, "Just take a crack at it." But It's not up to you what to do—and you darn well know that. You have to beg whenever you need resources, including the training necessary to accomplish your tasks more effectively. You also may be held accountable for bottom-line numbers—numbers that are easy to measure, like quarterly profits in your region—that have little to do with measuring your performance yet directly affect your ranking and pay. Meanwhile, ...