How do you manage your boss?

That may sound like a trick question. After all, doesn’t the formal line of authority mean that your supervisor manages you – and not the other way around?

On paper, that’s true. But in the real world, there are many proactive things you can do to make your relationship with your boss more productive and valuable. They key to successfully managing your supervisor is to figure out how to make their job easier – and then to do the things that make you a valued colleague.

Tip #1: Adopt your supervisor’s mindset.

What are your boss’ strategic priorities? To whom do they report? What metrics are used to measure their success?

The first step is understanding how your company works and what you, your team, and your boss do that helps the organization thrive. This helps you communicate more strategically. When you make a request, you’ll be able to put it in terms your boss most appreciates. 

Let’s say you want your department to invest in new accounting software, and that your supervisor is evaluated on customer service scores. To get support for the investment, you could talk about how much easier it would make your job. That might work. But you’re more likely to get your boss on board if you explain how it will help your entire work unit serve customers better. 

Tip #2: Mirror your boss’ communication style

Most of us have a preferred communication style. Some people like to see things in writing before a meeting, while others prefer having ideas presented verbally so they start discussing things right away. Not only do we enjoy communicating in our preferred style, but we understand and absorb information better when we (and others) use it.

To figure out if your boss is a “writer” or a “talker,” watch how they initiate meetings with other people. Then use the same strategy when communicating with them. Similarly, are they someone who wants details first, and then the big picture, or vice versa? Study their messages and respond in kind.

Tip #3: Make it easy to give feedback

If you ask someone a general question, you’re likely to get a generic answer. Peppering your boss with questions like, “How am I doing?” or “How can I improve?” will likely get you responses like “Fine” and “Keep up the good work.”

But when you ask for specific feedback, you’ll get a more thoughtful (and useful!) reply. So try, “How could I make the Smith report easier to read?” Then listen, don’t become defensive, and act on the suggestions you receive. When you prove you’re coachable, people are willing to invest time and energy in providing feedback.

Ultimately, your goal is to both develop trust with your supervisor and make it easy for them to communicate with you. We’re all busy, and tend to look for the quickest and easiest way to get things done. When your boss can communicate with your easily and efficiently, they’re more likely to turn to you when new projects or opportunities arise.

If you’re the boss, you can teach people how to “manage up” to you. Be explicit with your team about performance metrics and priorities. Explain your communication preferences. You’ll likely find that being “managed” well makes your life as the boss easier.