Reconstruct a Relationship With Your Boss by Asking for His Advice
If you and your boss have been a little unstable lately, there is one thing that will definitely help you start smoothing things out: ask their advice.
Whatever happens between you, seeking advice from your boss is a good starting point for both of you to side with each other. As Jean-François Manzoni , professor of management practice at INSEAD explains to Harvard Business Review , asking someone for advice shows that you respect their judgment and intelligence. It makes them invest in you and makes them know that you are ready to fall behind them. In general, this is a good way to improve their opinion of you, says Manzoni.
But Harvard Business School professor Linda Hill and co-author of Being the Boss: 3 Imperatives for Becoming a Great Leader suggests that there is a right way to do it. You don’t want them to think that you are solving your problems or working on them. Therefore, use phrases such as “I am asking for your advice” and “I need help to think it over” so that they know that you are still willing to do the real work yourself. And most importantly, once you ask their advice, make sure you follow it. If you don’t, your plan to mend your relationship can backfire. You can find more tips on how to get along better with your boss at the link below.
What to do when you and your boss don’t get along | Harvard Business Review