Why your boss doesnt like you and what you can do -

Why your boss doesnt like you and what you can do - You have that pit in the bottom of your stomach every time you need to talk to your boss. If he or she doesnt seem to like you, what can you do? You have a few choices. 1) throw your hands up and hope you win the lottery soon or 2) try to figure out why youre not a favorite in the office and make changes so you can earn some favor with the boss. Unless a windfall or a new job is in the offing, its time to make changes. Your boss probably doesnt like you if: 1. You â€" and your work â€" are always late. If youre the employee who never finishes projects on time, or you consistently stroll into your office 30 minutes late, you arent winning any points with the boss or your co-workers. If there is a certain time that you are expected at your desk, its disrespectful to ignore the rules and come in when its convenient for you. If your work is always late, youre probably preventing your colleagues from getting their part done. These are two cardinal sins. The fix: This is an easy one. Be on time and finish your work. Learn from your mistakes. If it takes you longer than expected to finish projects, either ask for help ahead of time, or make extra time in your schedule to get everything done. That may mean skipping those long lunches and extended coffee breaks, which arent winning you any points, either. 2. You take no initiative. Especially if youve been in your job for a year or more, your boss expects you to know how to handle certain issues. If you come running to ask for help every time an unexpected situation arises, its a drain on your boss who always needs to tell you what to do next. The fix: Learn from situations youve handled in the past and take the reins of your job. Instead of panicking and asking for help, make a decision and solve the problem at hand. Of course, theres always the flip side to any issue: If your boss is a micro-manager, he or she probably doesnt like it if you never ask before you act. In that case, take the opposite approach: Contact your boss with the problem and suggest the solution before you take action. 3. You dont communicate. No boss likes an employee who never tells him anything. For example, if you had an unfortunate run-in with a client, and the boss hears about it third-hand, you are not going to be on the nice list. No one likes negative surprises, least of all bosses. The fix: This is easy. Just keep your boss in the loop. Send a quick email update at appropriate intervals. Ask your boss how often hed like a check-in email, and make a point to keep him in the loop if anything comes up that he will want to know in the interim. 4. You blame other people. If youd win the pass the buck contest at your workplace, dont be surprised if youre not a boss favorite. The fix: Start to take some responsibility when things go wrong on your watch. Explain the problem and what youve already done to make sure it doesnt happen again. 5. You are a drama king or queen. Given a choice, most bosses would choose to fire the employee who stirs up the most drama in the office. If that person is you, take note: Your head could be on the chopping block. Are you the first to spread a rumor? Quick to run to one colleague to share some news thats sure to fuel discontent? Are you the first to complain or criticize when there are new policies or procedures? Do you try to rile up your colleagues to gang up against your manager? Are you creating problems where none existed? While personality traits are tough to self-assess, try to objectively evaluate your behavior. Youre probably stirring up drama outside of work, too. If a friend calls you a drama queen, take pause and ask yourself: Am I considered a troublemaker at work? The fix: Once you identify the problem, tone it down. Stop before you share juicy gossip. Dont complain for once. Think about how you can improve morale in your office instead of destroying it. When you make efforts to change, its possible you can alter the impression people have of you, and improve your relationship with the boss. image by aaipodpics