“This Isn’t a Juggling Act – This is Your Job!”

April RodgersVice President, Human

Resources

What to Expect…• Best and Worst Boss• Exercise• Debrief

• Advantages and Disadvantages of Multiples• Ground Rules• Navigating Multiples• Conflicts• Questions

Best and Worst Exercise

• Good Boss, Bad Boss:• Introduction: Name and where you are from• I am… and when I’m not at work I fill my time…• Describe the worst boss you ever had.• Why was s/he the worst? Did you discover any helpful

techniques to help you cope in that situation?• Describe the best boss you ever had.• Why was s/he the best? What did you learn from him

or her that you still carry with you today?• Designate someone to share.

Good vs. Evil

Bad Boss

• Micromanage or unavailable• Hypercritical• Poor Listener• Rude or Condescending• Creates fear• Avoids Conflict• Speaks negatively• Controlling• Inflexible• Hoards knowledge as power

Good Boss

• Inspires a vision and articulates a plan, then gets out of your way

• Engaged with employees• Interested employee growth

and development, mentors• Motivates through positive

praise• Addresses areas of

opportunity constructively• Seeks feedback, takes advice• Communicates openly

Multiple Bosses

Advantages• Can make company

more democratic• Learn from more than

one perspective• Your contributions can

be more widely recognized

Disadvantages• Miscommunication• Overload of work• Conflicting deadlines• Infighting among the

bosses• Role confusion• Loyalty conflicts

First Things First• Set and manage expectations. When people are

clear on what is expected of them, they are clear on how they can succeed.

• Clarify roles and responsibilities• Is there a lead boss, who completes the performance

appraisal and makes salary recommendations?

• Keep the lines of communication open, understand how they prefer to communicate with you and each other

Manage Up• Am I at work to get a paycheck? Advance my career?

Make my boss look good?• Get to know your boss, what is she trying to accomplish,

what does she value (personally and professionally, does she make decisions based on data, or her gut)

• Stretch yourself• Go above and beyond your tasks to enhance her work

and objectives• Anticipate her needs to make her job easier• Work to understand her style and lean into it, adapt to it• Trust that she is making decisions with the best

intentions, and always stay positive

Get Organized• Keep regular individual and group meetings with

agendas and email notes• Long term, cascading SMART goals – Your goals should be

based on their goals• Projects• Pulse Items or Major Matters• To do lists & follow up items

• Prioritize, what can be done right away, what needs to wait

• Keep clear boundaries and manage your time. Schedule a meeting with yourself.

Sample Agenda• Keep electronic

copies from week to week

• Email notes

World’s Best Medical Center Moe, Larry, Curly

Frequency: Bi-weekly Agenda: Best Employee Date: August 1, 2013 Pulse Items or Major Matters (Guidance, Decisions, Need to Know): Transition plan for co-worker resignation Moe Ambassador for Employee Opinion Survey Larry This Week: 200 piece physician mailing Curly Schedule Board Retreat Moe Projects: Replace Board Badges Larry Plan holiday party Curly Follow Up: Missing 5 RSVPs for Sr. Leadership meeting Moe Solicited network feedback on policy revision

Larry

SMART Goals: Convert file format All Revamp administrative assistant messaging and improve response time

All

Navigating Multiples• Stay positive, if there are conflicts they are most

likely because of the situation, not you, don’t take it personally

• Stay in tune with the politics and understand who is in the position of power and prioritize accordingly

• Don’t speak on behalf of one boss or another, try to get them to talk to one another

• No surprises, proactively communicate and seek advice.

• Understand your role in the situation. Self-awareness is key.

“That sounds great, but…”• If you have to confront an issue, be prepared to

describe the challenge in terms of an area of opportunity and propose at least 2 or 3 possible solutions or alternatives for them to select from. Where possible, do this without an audience.

• When making recommendations, speak collectively and tentatively, e.g. “We may want to consider the possibility of changing the date, what do you think?” vs. “I’m saying the date has to be changed.”

• Sleep on it first, never react when you are frustrated. What seems satisfying in the moment, may have long term consequences.

“I just wish they got along…”• If bosses don’t like one another• If there is a one time disagreement, then see if you can all

talk openly about it• If they don’t like each other at all, talk to them separately,

establish clear goals via email

• Don’t ever take sides, or let one boss bait you into a conversation about the other boss. “What John says about Sue, says more about John than it does about Sue.”

“I’m at my wits end…”• If you are in a situation that seems hopeless, then

seek counsel from their supervisor• You are not there to complain, explain the situation, your

efforts to resolved it and ask for guidance. Be ready to provide constructive solutions if asked.

• As a last resort, consult with Human Resources• Ultimately, if you are in a no win situation,

remember that you choose how you react to every situation you are presented with, and your career is your responsibility to manage, no one else’s

Key Takeaways…• Focus on the advantages of multiple bosses• First, it’s about expectations• Then it’s all about communication, • Scheduled and informal, written and spoken

• Be clear on your objectives and work in the best interest of your bosses

• Seek assistance when necessary