Its Okay to Manage Your Boss

lack the day-to-day engagement necessary to consistently maintain the very basics of management: clear expectations; necessary resources; real performance tracking; and fair credit and reward.

You should meet more often with a boss if you are working with this boss
• For the first time
• On a new project
• On a project with especially high stakes

Keep meeting with your boss regularly. Keep monitoring and measuring and documenting. Continue to revisit your schedule and work plans and to-do lists regularly. Trust the process. Stay flexible. Be prepared to revise and adjust every step of the way as circumstances change.

No matter how lowly

or mundane or repetitive or minor your tasks and responsibilities might seem in relation to the overall mission, play your role to the max. Attitude matters—a lot. Effort matters—a lot

ing, often the best thing you can do is to say as little as possible and practice good meeting manners. If you are tempted to speak up, ask yourself whether everyone needs to hear this point right here and now? If you have a question, could it be asked at a later time, off-line? Remember, some meetings are a waste of time. Try not to say a single word that will unnecessarily lengthen such a meeting

Before attending any meeting or presentation, make sure you know what the meeting is about and whether your attendance is required. Identify your role in the meeting: What information are you responsible for gathering or communicating? Prepare in advance: Should you review or read any material before the meeting? Do you need to have any conversations before the meeting? If you are making a presentation, prepare even more. Ask yourself exactly what value you have to offer the group. If you are not a primary actor in the meet