We have all been in a situation where after a series of interviews you land that promised new job only to discover that your new manager is not exactly that smart.  What can you do about it?

According to "Leadership and Self Deception" by Arbinger Institute, you can turn the situation into your favor by not spending your effort on blaming and pointing fingers at your manager’s capability and abilities. Rather than focusing on his shortcomings, try to do things to make him look better. This way, you will not only make your boss, but your entire department shiny and it will bring you the recognition needed to get promoted.

How can this goal be achieved?

Your manager always has a strategy. You are dying to point out missing elements within and feel the need to argue your initiative. Take a deep breath before you go ballistic on him. Consider if it’s really worth disagreeing with him and also give him the benefit of the doubt. Unless it is absolutely necessary, arguing every point not only compromises your relationship with him, but it can also cloud your advice which otherwise would be perceived favorably. Pick your fights wisely and present your advice or initiative to your boss only when it really matters.

Putting yourself into his shoes

Imagine running your team in your manager’s shoes. Contrary to your understanding your boss is an "idiot", you might realize a different level of intelligence he carries through.  He might be looking at a given situation from different angles or he may very well have his hands tied by upper management.

Once you are in his shoes, you can also study him better.  Try to understand his business values, behavioral patterns used to execute actions, check out pictures and fliers in his cubicle, and even the type of music he listens to on his ipod. The more you learn and understand about him, the better you will be able to communicate with him which will enable him to collaborate with you more comfortably.  Conducting responsibilities in his language can put you in an advantageous position because now you understand how to influence his decisions under the radar.

This is different from "kissing up to the boss".  Rather, it’s getting rid of an egoistic idea that you are superior to him and trying to take the reins of his world, which would jeopardize your ability to wisely "help" him look less like an "idiot". You do not want to limit your career opportunities through schoolyard power struggles.

A different perspective

Everyone comes from different backgrounds, including your manager.  No company consists of employers who haven’t worked somewhere else before. Even though you all work for a common goal, thow you learn to do the task at hand, your habits and ways of doing things will be different from the guy next to you and your managers. It is all about different points of view on various phases in the project which is also what makes your workplace diverse and an interesting place to be. Knowing and understanding this diversity between you, your coworkers and your manager will help relieve your frustrations and make you feel a more integral part of the group and less mal-managed by your manager. It will be much easier for you to handle the situation because you understand where he is coming from.

September 14th, 2009