10 rules of an ideal subordinate

Let’s study the topic of relations between a boss and a subordinate, starting with an appeal to Google. Do you know how many search results it produces for the query: “how to manage people?” – 1,490,000. And to the request: “how to obey” or “how to learn to obey?” – 0. Everyone wants to be a boss – they write about it, they teach it, they work on it specifically. We’ve collected the 10 rules of an ideal subordinate.

One gets the impression that leaders come from nowhere, or are born to be leaders. Perhaps this happens because we like to think that the period when we occupy the position of a subordinate can be quickly passed and forever forgotten. Therefore, no one flaunts the role of a subordinate and does not write about it.

But if you gather all the top managers in one place and ask which of them needs a “quality” performer, be sure everyone will raise their hands.

So what should the right subordinate be like? What does the manager expect, how to behave in order to effectively and correctly fulfill this role?

Wiktionary defines being a subordinate as “the consent or obligation to act according to someone’s will”. This common misconception is a veritable virus in the minds of most people, and it is responsible for many of our failures. Since the executor must not act according to the will of his superior, he must act according to the rules of his position and profession.

And the higher a person is in the professional or social hierarchy, the more demands are placed on them and the more difficult are the conditions under which they can maintain and/or improve their status. Want to climb higher? — learn the rules and follow them!

Let’s start with some “conditions” of being a subordinate:

Get to know your boss.

meet say hi Learn what he likes, what annoys him; what is his history; study books, films, topics that your boss is interested in, and if he also writes or recommends something, learn it by heart. Pay attention to whether your colleagues allow shortcomings in communication with management; observe and, if possible, invent such forms of behavior, the manager will be satisfied with.

Coordinate the initiative.

help colleagues Even if you think you are doing everything as good as possible, remember that you can never see the whole picture, so always coordinate your actions with the boss. Your “good intentions” applied without permission will give your boss the impression that you have lost control of the process and can seriously damage the case and your career.

Work for the result.

succeed A boss gets annoyed by subordinates who keep talking about how “hard” they worked “all night long”/”all along the weekend”, “overcoming blood, sweat and tears”. Your efforts and fatigue are not an indicator of productivity, only one thing is expected from you – a task completed in a timely manner.

Accept the boss’ criticism.

do more You should always remember that if the patron makes a remark or raises his voice, it is not to humiliate or punish you. First of all, this is one of the ways to teach you. And if the boss reacts calmly to your shortcomings, you should be wary, perhaps this is a signal that he has stopped putting his hopes for you.

Listen and understand.

listen more Pay attention to the boss’ words, delve into their essence, identify areas that are unclear to you, clarify. The skill of feedback will be very useful here in order to avoid mistakes and always do the right thing.

Don’t make your own decisions.

decision making Decisions are made only by the boss. If you have some situation to be resolved you should collect all the comprehensive information on the matter, prepare possible solutions, propose and, if necessary – remind the director of the need to sign, approve, or appoint. Then take your time and wait.

Evolve. First of all, professionally.

grow and develop Learn from experienced specialists, read literature and periodicals in your field, learn the history, regularly acquire new skills and apply them in order to make your work more effective. Never flaunt your advanced qualifications, because there is only one way to use them – a well done job.

Take care of the image of your boss.

boss image Maintain the good name of your patron, first of all, by respecting his decisions, words and actions. Never criticize your boss, especially in front of your colleagues! It is better not to discuss him with anyone at all, since even praise is an assessment, and who are you to “assess” someone who is higher in the hierarchy?

Reach out without distraction.

work dialogue Take care of your boss’ nerves and time, don’t ask unnecessary questions, try to learn as much as possible and figure it out yourself. Choose forms of communication that will not distract your director from work, prepare for the conversation in advance: write down questions, clarify information. Systematize interaction so as to solve as many cases as possible with a minimum of transactions.

Help your colleagues.

teamwork This doesn’t mean doing their jobs, it means teaching them how to do their jobs the best possible way. If you see that one of your colleagues does not make it in time – insure, if possible, doing everything in your power to achieve the result on time!