In my last article, Do You See Me Now? How to Get Noticed and Impress Your Boss, I talked about how to impress your boss without seeming as if you were sucking up to him or her. If you are looking to move up in your career field you know there is more to a job then just doing your work. You have to make a good impression on your boss so they can see you are capable of handling more responsibility and deserve that promotion or seat at the table. But, what if your boss is actually based in a different location then you are? With the current trends in the workplace, it is much more common to find your boss working in a different area of the city or maybe in a different State or even a different country then you are. How can you make a good impress when you hardly ever see them? Communication and trust are key. Here are a few strategies you can use to not get lost in the distance…
Ticktock. Be mindful of the time difference. Know what time zone your boss is in and schedule meetings, send emails, etc. during hours that are most convenient for him. Don’t send emails or call when they are typically walking out the door unless it is an emergency.
Understand Expectations. Clearly know what your responsibilities are. Know what is expected of you to perform your duties at a satisfactory level and what is needed to exceed that level. Know what your expected work hours are and who, if anyone, do you need to contact if you are ever running late. What authority do you have to make decisions? These are just a few questions you should consider when having this important conversation. You never want to have to say – “I didn’t know”.
Schedule virtual meetings. Don’t rely on email as the sole method of communication. There are many tools available, such as Skype or Zoom, that you can use to schedule virtual meetings where your boss can actually see you. If you are camera shy, you’ll have to get over it. Having a virtual meeting allows you and your boss to see facial expressions, demeanor and body language that you can’t see over the phone or in an email. “Seeing” your boss can clear up any misunderstandings/miscommunication that may have occurred. Remember to schedule the meeting at a time that is convenient for your boss.
Know what your boss likes and doesn’t like. Is important to understand your boss’s leadership style and how they like things done. Do you leave work everyday at the same time, or do they prefer you stay until the task is completed? Do they have a particular way they want reports submitted? Do they prefer lots of emails or information summarized in one long email? With working remotely, you won’t have many opportunities for observing your boss’s style and personality so you may have to ask more questions. Don’t be afraid to ask, you don’t want to find out the hard way.
Maintain Professionalism. Even though your boss is not there on site with you, maintain a professional work environment. You don’t know what information is getting back to him. Before virtual meetings, take a look at your work area and make sure everything looks neat and clean. Don’t have anything on your desk that does not fit in the office environment. Don’t forget to carefully select your wardrobe – dress to impress. Present a professional appearance that represents where you want to go in the company; dress for the position you want, not the one you have.
Lunch with the boss. Schedule a time to have lunch online with the boss. This is a great way to talk about some of the personnel issues, morale, and ways to improve employee engagement. Talking about these important issues during lunch, will allow for a “softer” environment, creating the right energy and atmosphere to discuss potentially difficult topics.
The Power of Social Media . Connect with your boss on social media, especially LinkedIn. Follow any company pages and comment, share and like the post. Share interesting articles about your industry or write some of your own. Doing this will not only show you are tech savvy, but also that you are an expert in your area of specialty, leadership and management. With Facebook being a more informal platform, if you are not comfortable being a “friend” of your boss on social media, considering making your Facebook personal page private but do follow or like the company business page.
Just because you don’t work in the same location as your boss does not mean you have to remain out of his site. Plan to have at least one weekly meeting with him and position yourself as an expert in your industry. Communicate and build a relationship of trust. For more tips on dynamic communication and dynamic relationships in the workplace, send me an email at cowens@infinitycoaching.net or visit our website www.infinitycoaching.net/. Here’s to your success!
