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“The lift you give to your boss often leads to your boss lifting you.”
John Maxwell, The 360 Degree Leader
To expand your success in 2011, you must focus on and do exceptionally well the things that are most important to your boss. You need to lighten your boss’ load.
The first point to remember is that we all have a boss – most of us have more than one boss. Whether you are in the middle moving up the ladder or at the top as CEO or President, you have bosses. In fact, the senior leader in an organization often has more bosses than anyone else.
As a start, clarify and name who is your boss. You may have a few bosses but pick the one key boss for you. What generally happens is that if we try to please many we end up satisfying none. Ironically, if we focus on pleasing one we also please others. So, to begin, name your boss.
The second point is to set a plan that will create value for your boss and your organization. Put to the side the results and outcomes you want for your own success, but start your plan with what needs to be done to create value for the other people who are most important for your success. What you want for yourself will follow.
The advice most leaders provide developing professionals is to think outside their own role and see what is happening around them to find where they can create the most value. That is what will be noticed. Focusing on your own objectives and desired outcomes will not get you the attention you want – you will probably be noticed but not for the right reasons. So, step number two starts with the fact that it is not about you.
Putting your strategy for success together for 2011 should start with a little investigation. Arrange an interview with your boss and find out what his or her load looks like. You may think you know what is most important but it is much more helpful to hear it directly from them in their own words. Set up a time to talk with your boss about how you can work more effectively to help them.
In your interview, ask your boss five crucial questions:
- What are the three biggest challenges they face in achieving results in their work?
- What are their three greatest opportunities (or goals) for providing value for the organization? What do they need to deliver?
- What are the three added supports or capabilities that would help them most in delivering on their goals?
- What are the three most important results they need to provide for their success?
- How would they feel if they could deliver or exceed those results?
You may also want to ask how you are working that helps your boss and things you may be doing that are not so helpful so you can take the best approach.
With answers to these questions, you know exactly what is in front of your boss. You know what needs to be resolved, what needs to be captured, and what needs to be found for his or her success.
Where do you go with this knowledge?
Bottom-line, you can lift your boss’ load the most by performing your own job to your best ability. Identify the four or five key results your boss needs from your own work and put in place an action plan to make that happen. Don’t bring problems, think about solutions. Keep your boss updated on your progress, and what is next. No surprises, apprise your boss of the status of your work and how you will meet the results, or what supports you need and where you will get them.
When you identify those drivers of success for your own job role – the four or five key result areas – connect them to the bottom-line results or impact for your boss, your organization, or your client. Making the connection will enable you to find much more meaning in your work and keep you thinking of how you can add value. Find ways to measure the progress and outcomes of your work so you can see your input and also know what is working and where you can be better.
Think about what you accomplished in the prior year that created value for your boss or the organization and client. What did you learn from those successes? What are you grateful for in achieving those accomplishments? What strengths did you use to create those results? With this reflection, you can also see how to build on those successes in your work and achieve even more in your role.
Now, in terms of your drivers, clarify what you want to achieve in 2011 for each of them. What actions will you take to accomplish your goals in those key drivers of success for your position? What learning and development will you need to add the most value to your work and achieve (or exceed) your goals? How will you apply your strengths to your work?
From your reflection on your positive achievements in 2010 and the outcomes you want to achieve for 2011, you can define a clear plan of action for focus in the coming year. With this focus, you concentrate your strengths and energy on doing well the things that your boss needs most from you – success in your own role.
In building on this foundation of success in your own position’s drivers, think back to your boss’ answers to the questions in your interview. What one or two projects could you take on that would support your boss’ success? The projects would play into his or her challenges, opportunities, or capabilities. Adding value here will be greatly appreciated. Be willing to do what other people may not want to do. Helping in tough areas is where growth occurs, influence is gained, and attention is given. Every boss has messes that they want cleared but don’t want to necessarily have to do it themselves. If you can take on one or two of these messes and successfully clean them up, you will not only learn and grow but you will show leadership that will be noticed not just by your boss but both other important influencers in the organization.
Successful leaders often cite their volunteering for difficult assignments or jobs that no one else wanted as keys to being tapped for greater responsibility and promotion. If you take the view of the tough job being a learning experience, you will have the right perspective to make a success of the situation. You don’t take these jobs on for the attention – rather you put your hand up because it will add value and provide learning for you. What you want is to successfully resolve the situation or complete the project – from there the rewards will naturally come to you. If you start with the end personal reward in mind, you will never achieve real success.
In building your plan for success in 2011, you should know how to excel in your job by focusing on your drivers of success and also where to take on additional jobs that will help your boss in his or her work.
- Interview your boss to understand what success looks like for them.
- Focus on the four or five activities that create success in your role and set targets or goals to excel in each of them.
- Reflect on your success in the prior year and how you can build on your learning, strengths, and results to generate even more in the coming year.
- Make a plan of action to achieve your goals for your drivers that will take about 75% of your time.
- Identify and volunteer for one or two additional projects that will help your boss in the achievement of his or her results – resolve a challenge, capture an opportunity, or provide a capability.
- Put your plan for your drivers and additional jobs on paper and measure your progress.
- Follow your plan, update your progress, report on your status, correct your course of action as needed, and achieve your results.
- Be prepared for a great year in 2011.
The beginning of a new year is a time of renewal and commitment. We have put the past year to bed with all of the joys and sorrows it may have brought us. Now is the time to set in motion a plan that will make the next year a great success.
Make a plan that lightens the load of your boss and focus on doing the critical actions that will achieve your goals. Only when you create value for others will you truly build value for yourself.
“The key is to do something because it matters not because it will get you noticed.”
John Maxwell, The 360 Degree Leader
2011 will be a great year for you.
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