Video:How to Maintain Appropriate Relationships With Management

Transcript:How to Maintain Appropriate Relationships With Management

Hi, I'm Nick Jaynes for About.com, and this is how to maintain appropriate relationships with management. I'll be using information from the Career-Planning Guide site on About.com.

Keep Conversations With Management Professional

Maintaining a relationship with your manager can be tricky. Here are a few tips on how to maintain appropriate relationships with management. The first tip is to keep conversations professional. When you first start the relationship, keep conversations short and to the point. Make sure they all pertain to work you are doing or the company. Ask questions about the job, and how to do it better. Your manager will respect your work ethic. Never make inappropriate jokes and do not use offensive language in front of your boss.

Take Responsibility for Mistakes and Successes

The next tip is to take responsibility for your actions and work. If you make a mistake and your boss confronts you, make sure you take responsibility for it. Do not make excuses or place blame on other coworkers. Your boss will respect you as a person if you take responsibility for your mistakes. In addition to this, apologize and offer solutions, so your boss knows that you won't repeat your mistake. In the same regard, take responsibility for the compliments your boss gives you. Accept them gracefully. Don't go gloating around the office. Keep the compliments to yourself. Otherwise, your boss and coworkers will lose respect for you.

Not Appropriate to Gossip or Complain to Management

If you hear a rumor about your boss, don't approach them about it. Keep it to yourself and do not share it with your coworkers. If your boss were to find out, you would quickly alienate yourself, and you would find yourself in a very bad position. Your boss would lose trust in you, and that's not a position you want to be in. The biggest rule to adhere to is to never complain in front of your boss. The last thing they want to hear is you complaining. They were in your shoes at one time, and had to go through the same things you had to. They didn't make it there by complaining. Your boss will find it very annoying and often will give you more work because of it. Hopefully, your relationship with your boss will be better after watching this video. Remember, keep it professional and you can't go wrong.

Thanks for watching. If you'd like to learn more, please visit us on the web at About.com.