Ways and Means for Managing Up: 50 Strategies for Helping You and Your Boss Succeed

5

Anticipate What the Boss Wants or Needs

Most bosses set the organizational success bar to the desired height, and their expectation is that the rank and file will reach whatever that might be. That can lead to mission accomplishment, which is fine unless the boss is demanding and expects more than what has been asked for.

One way to achieve expectations or, better yet, to exceed them is to anticipate what the boss wants or needs. If your boss is not particularly demanding, he or she may ask for little or nothing. However, if expectations and demands are high, you need to be thinking ahead.

Having worked for many bosses with high standards, I ...