Ten Things Your Manager Wants You to Know
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Whether you are brand new or an old pro at your job, here are ten things that can help you be successful.

  1. Forget about excuses—With rare exceptions, no manager cares or wants to hear why an assignment wasn’t done. It’s your job to get it done well and meet the deadline.

  2. Simply carrying your share is not enough—Doing only what is expected of you does not set you apart from other employees. Managers value people who not only do their job but who seek new and better ways of doing things and are willing to initiate an idea and follow through on it. Volunteering for projects can be a great way to show initiative and offers opportunities to work with others in the organization outside your specific work group.

  3. Follow through on your own—Tie up loose ends on your own, don’t wait for your manager to remind you of what needs to be done next. Don’t hesitate to ask questions in order to move a project along.

  4. Attendance and punctuality count—Managers quickly become aware of who makes an effort to be at work and on time and who avoids being available when other people need them in order to do their work.

  5. Anticipate problems—Consider what could potentially go wrong and have a plan to minimize problems. When your responsibilities depend on input from others, make sure to communicate information and expectations so everyone is on the same page. Remember Murphy’s Law–“Anything that can go wrong, will”–and at the worst possible time, so be prepared.

  6. Think before taking problems to your manager—Managers have enough problems of their own. If you lack the authority, come prepared with solutions when you present the problem which conveys that you can be a problem-solver, not just a problem collector.

  7. Choose your battles carefully—To decide if something is worth fighting for, ask yourself: How much difference does this problem really make in my job? Is it permanent or temporary? And most importantly, do I have a realistic chance of winning? Don’t become a victim in a no-win situation.

  8. Get along with your coworkers—No manager wants to be in the middle of a coworker disagreement and put in a position of picking who is “right” and who is “wrong.” Internal battles equal lost production in the eyes of a manager. Make every effort to figure out ways to work out disagreements on your own.

  9. Never assume other people operate from your standards, goals or rules—When you find yourself thinking, “I never expected that behavior from that person,” you know you’ve made a mistake of projecting your views and values onto others’ behaviors. Managers will see this tactic as a narrow, problem-generating attitude, which does not work in your favor.

  10. Learn what other people in the organization are doing—Be aware of what the major goals and objectives are for your organization. Ask questions and consider how your job fits in with the big picture.