Does your boss prefer to read or listen? It is important to find out.

 

Finding out if your boss prefers to listen or read could provide a big piece of the puzzle to making your boss happy. Peter Drucker identified this dynamic many years ago.

“Peter Drucker divides bosses into “listeners” and “readers.” Some bosses like to get information in report form so they can read and study it. Others work better with information and reports presented in person so they can ask questions. As Drucker points out, the implications are obvious. If your boss is a listener, you brief him or her in person, then follow it up with a memo. If your boss is a reader, you cover important items or proposals in a memo or report, then discuss them.” -- Gerald Heralds Blog


While listening to the Manager Tools podcast series on creating a 90 day new job plan the hosts highlighted another one of their podcasts which expanded on the listener vs reader phenomenon.

At work the single most important one to one relationship you have is between you and your boss and you will be best served by adapting your approach to meet your supervisor's style. Knowing if your boss prefers to read or listen to an issue is much more likely to set you up for success, especially when new information is being presented to your supervisor.

Knowing your preference is important too. Do you prefer to read or listen to (new) information at work?



Image source: http://wishtank.org/peter-drucker-the-man-who-hated-the-word-guru/

Manager Tools 90 Day New Job Plan

If you are a manager or wish to be a manager then you should use manager-tools.com. Chad Nuttall has been a long time fan and he brought the site to my attention. Last month I decided to become a member and I'm considering a membership for the spin off Career Tools as well to gain access to additional resources, such as podcasts. 

The Career Tools resources include three podcasts dedicated to a 90 Day New Job Plan to help with someone who is onboarding into a new job. Perfect for me given that I'm in a new job. Here is a link to each podcast with a few key points I've taken from each podcast:

1. 90 Day New Job Plan - The Overview
•  The main message is "fit in, fit in, fit in." The hosts, Mike & Mark, say that the first 90 days is about creating relationships and not about getting results. Trying to get results may negatively impact your future ability to get results.
2. 90 Day New Job Plan - Relationships
•  Asking questions to get to know people is a very important skill to use early in a new job. At the start of a new job someone will be given a lot of freedom to ask questions. Areas to focus on include getting to know about people's personal lives, company history and people's strengths.
3. 90 Day New Job Plan - Bosses
•  Mike & Mark suggest that the single most important individual relationship you have at work is between you and your boss. Early in a new job is the time to get to know the names of your supervisor's peers, get this know his/her strengths and challenges, if s/he is a reader or a listener etc.