Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:00 — 4.1MB)
Have you ever seen someone do great damage to themselves by the way they treated their manager? We’re looking at mistakes to avoid with your manager.
Remember the first three mistakes are:
- complaining about your boss,
- showing up your boss,
- and not understanding generational differences.
Here’s the next mistake:
Mistake 4: Displaying Negative Attitudes in Meetings
Negative attitudes are always harmful, but I’ve noticed that a person who seems to always have some negative comment in meetings can really do themselves great harm. Obviously, you should feel free to express your opinions and suggestions, but often it’s just the way you do it that makes all the difference. Someone told me early in my career that if you’re going to voice a problem, always follow it with a solution. You don’t want to develop a reputation that you are never happy with what’s happening. Even if it just shows on your face, it is not working to your benefit. It is not good for you to be put in a “I’m never happy” mold.
Proverbs 17:22 gives us some good advice: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Keeping a generally cheerful attitude and demeanor will make you more attractive, more appealing, someone people want to be with. So, think about what kind of attitude you generally portray, and make sure you come across as a person who sees the glass as half full! Your boss will appreciate that very much.
Mistake 5: Not Being Able to Handle Feedback
The only way any of us grow and mature is to become aware of areas in our life that need improvement. That means we need feedback from our managers at times, even if it is a bit hard to handle. For sure, none of us enjoy being told we need to improve, but if you develop a reputation that you can’t take honest criticism, you will stunt your growth as a person and in your career.
Proverbs 12:1 says: Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. And again in Proverbs 15:31: Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. Life-giving correction is the perfect terminology for constructive criticism, even if you feel it was not given in a good way. Be willing to hear and then truly consider any criticism that comes your way. Don’t make the mistake of not being able to handle feedback.