If you believe that performance alone will ensure your success and growth in the corporate world – you are wrong! Let us help.
Consider this: Many individuals demonstrate outstanding job performance, yet have been fired. Why? Because they failed to “manage up”. They failed to manage the relationship with their boss.
We hear statements like these often:
- My performance speaks for itself…
- My boss is incompetent and others should recognize my talents…
- Only performance should count…
- What do you mean, “manage my boss?” – don’t you realize that the boss is supposed to manage me?
- I can’t believe that person got promoted– they are so incompetent (compared to me)…
While perhaps a natural first reaction, each one of these statements is truly self-serving, and naïve. The corporate world simply does not work that way: Relationships matter, and they matter a lot.
Jeffrey Pfeffer, Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford University, recently published a book titled Power (Harper Collins 2010), and Chapter 1 is titled “It Takes More Than Performance”. In fact, the last line in the chapter is: “Performance by itself is seldom sufficient, and in some instances, may not even be necessary.”
You develop power, recognition and repute in an organization through influence; Through pro-actively building and managing relationships –and in particular, starting with your boss.
Honestly, how supportive would you be if one of your subordinates (or colleagues) criticized you often (publically and privately) and in general were less than satisfied with you? You likely would not be very supportive… Why then, would you believe a boss—your boss– would be any different?
Bosses are not immune to criticism; they are not immune to negative talking behind their back; they are not immune to your active or passive resistance to them. Bosses too, can be insecure; and, if you feed into their insecurity, you are likely to come out on the losing end.
Like it or not (unless you choose to use this experience as an exit plan) your boss has control over your career.
In this week’s Quick Tips we will offer you ideas on how to manage (sincerely vs manipulatively) your relationship with your boss, and how to create positive influence and repute so as to help you grow and further your career.
Copyright 2010 Kubica and LaForest
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