Page 28 - Leveraging Up ebook by Joanne Linden 2021 ACE Peer Network

Leveraging Up!

Discover your Manager’s Priorities

So, what’s the most likely cause of a perceived misfit? It
usually starts with one event. You likely hit one of your Manager’s

“hot buttons”—their critical performance priorities or style
imperatives. For one Manager, maybe you didn’t provide timely

updates on project status. For another, maybe you met the criteria
for the offsite, but they expected you to exceed it. Perhaps you

spoke out of turn at a meeting – something they consider a sign of

disrespect. Or maybe they wanted a simple one-page itinerary and
you provided a five-page itinerary with details they didn’t want or

need – and they interpreted that as a sign you didn’t listen or, worse,
that you can’t get out of the weeds. Maybe you simply didn’t keep

them informed of an important set of events that was unfolding, and

it took them by surprise.

As soon as you start working with a new Manager, one of your
priorities should be to understand their buttons. Ideally, you should

ask them directly: What are your absolute priorities for your

performance and mine? What criteria should I always consider in
decision making? When it comes to style, you should ask: How would

you prefer I work with you? What do I need to avoid doing that would
really bother you? Find out how they’d prefer to work with you, such

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