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You’ve run the gamut of bad bosses, from the demanding and aloof Miranda Priestly type to the shady Gordon Gecko characters. And while you’ve heard that there are people in the world who manage their employees like a father or a mentor, you’ve certainly never had the pleasure to work for one. If you’ve never had a good relationship with an employer, manager, or anyone in a position of authority over you, maybe it’s time to ask yourself if part of the problem is you. Any relationship takes a lot of work on both sides to pull off, and while an employer, by necessity, must be demanding to a certain extent, there are definitely ways to improve your relationship and ensure that it is fruitful and fulfilling for both parties.

Know your job. If your employer’s main gripe is that he constantly has to explain the tasks he gives you, then either you don’t know your job or he doesn’t. To avoid further confrontation, take steps to ensure that you understand not only what your job entails, but the proper procedure for each task. Then he should have no cause to come down on you.

Don’t complain. Nobody likes a whiner, and the basis for any job is that you get paid to do what you’re told. Certainly you can quibble over what is and is not in your job description, but that’s only going to prove that you’re not a team player. If you are assigned a task that does not technically fit your position, but it is still work-related, just suck it up and do it. Even better, do it with a smile. Your willingness to pitch in when there is a crisis could improve your relationship with your boss and help you when you seek a promotion. If, however, tasks are not office-related (pick up dry cleaning, make personal travel arrangements), feel free to turn them down.

Avoid tardiness and missed days. This is a job, not high school. There are circumstances where tardiness or absence cannot be helped (car accident, sick child), but sleeping through your alarm and battling traffic are not good excuses. And don’t use up all your sick days going to the beach, either. You were hired to work and that’s what you’re supposed to do. So you can’t expect to have a good relationship with a boss who basically has to act like your mother.

Take a compliment in stride. A good review or a “Job well done!” is not an excuse to rest on your laurels or get lazy. If your boss gives you some positive feedback, simply thank him and deliver more of the same. An employer is much more likely to relax and let you manage your own time if he knows he can trust you to do good work in a timely manner, so give him every reason to feel that way.

Keep the lines of communication open. Talking and understanding one another is the absolute best way to resolve differences and promote a good working relationship. Knowing where your boss is coming from, not only his expectations where you’re concerned, but also what’s on the line for him, can really help you when it comes to deconstructing his motives and actions. And you should share equally so that he knows the reason you’re tired is that you were up all night with a migraine, or that you can’t do the TPS report because you were never trained in that area. Simply talking it out can help you to avoid a lot of misunderstanding and frustration, allowing you the opportunity to enjoy a good working relationship with your boss.

Guest post by Leah Gallin of Medical Assistant where you can find medical assistant certification courses.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 8:52 am and is filed under Career. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.