What Your Boss Really Wants from You

STEP 1

Study Your Boss

Your boss is the central character in your work life. No matter how long you’ve been working, I bet you can name every boss you ever had—that’s how powerful their imprint is on us. We remember our bosses because they have a significant impact on our overall work experience. I’ve long forgotten most of the details of my first part-time job (which was decades ago) but I’ll never forget Mr. Peterson, my first boss. Mr. Peterson was a taskmaster, but he was fair and supportive if you were willing to work hard. I learned a lot from him, most of which went beyond how to do the job. He taught me the meaning of work ethic, commitment, and accountability.

I imagine you have lots of boss stories, too. I bet you could also tell me ...