How to make your boss happy, in 60 seconds or less
- Your working relationship with your boss is important, but there isn't one single way to keep them happy.
- Still, there are a few simple things you can do in 60 seconds or less that could keep you in good standing in your supervisor's mind.
- Business Insider spoke to career experts to find out what to do and why it works.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
If you've ever worked for a boss that makes the bosses from "Horrible Bosses," "The Devil Wears Prada," or "The Proposal" seem like a welcome alternative, you know that your relationship with your boss is important.
In fact, when Gallup surveyed U.S. adults, they found that 50% of employees left their job "to get away from their manager."
There isn't one quick and easy way to have a great working relationship with your boss. You need to consistently produce great work and be a considerate coworker. But there are still simple things you can do in 60 seconds or less to make your boss happy.
Business Insider spoke to career experts to find out what to do and why it works. Here's their best advice.
Check it before you send it
You know that feeling when you hit "send" on an email, then see a glaring typo or error and realize you can't unsend it?
It's a lousy feeling, and it is avoidable. Proofread your emails and your work for typos and errors.
If it's too late for that, simply own your mistake, Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster, told Business Insider.
"If something went out with an error, point it out. We're all human," Salemi said. "This is important because it shows that you don't hide from potential typos or mistakes and that you're able to quickly address it."
Volunteer for projects
Offer to work on different types of projects when you have time and think it is something you will excel at.
Of course, the project itself will take more than 60 seconds, but it only takes that long to evaluate a project and decide to do it.
"This works because you'll become more versatile and it will help boost your resume for additional skills and experiences when you look for external job opportunities," Salemi said.
Ask for feedback
Check in with your boss every so often to find out what you did well and how you can improve.
"Not only will this help you stay on track for a raise or promotion, but it will force your boss to evaluate your work and - as long as you're producing good work - recognize the good job you've done," Georgene Huang, CEO and cofounder of the job review site Fairygodboss, told Business Insider.
As Huang says, it can be as simple as adding, "Please let me know if you have any feedback," to emails to your boss or asking at the end of any one-on-one meetings.
Handle mistakes well
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but not everyone handles mistakes maturely.
"Accept responsibility for your actions, indicate what happened and how you've learned from it. Then move on," Salemi said. "You're better off pointing it out than trying to hide it."
One way to avoid making mistakes is to ask questions in advance if you are unsure of how to do something or what the expectations are for a project. Take a minute to think of any questions before starting a new project.
Celebrate achievements
If you are working on a project and a coworker does a great job, don't keep it to yourself. And definitely don't take all the credit.
"If you're at a department meeting and a colleague did a stellar job, publicly acknowledge your peer. This will probably boost your peer's morale and simultaneously show your boss you're a team player," Salemi said.
"By creating a positive atmosphere, your peers and others may return the accolades to you."