How Can I Lead When I Am Not in Charge? Four tips that will help you lead your boss.

Let’s face it – almost everyone has a boss. Our relationship with our immediate supervisor impacts so many aspects of our lives. A solid rapport with that person allows us to balance work/life more effectively, work in a positive environment and feel more fulfilled in our careers.

On the other hand, a poor relationship with our boss gives us a bad attitude – one that spills over into our personal lives after we’re off the clock. When the bond between us and our boss is weak, we often feel helpless – like victims to our careers. These feelings can contribute to career uncertainty, job dissatisfaction and, ultimately, they can make us question our professional ambitions.

Rather than suffer through the daily grind, there are things we can do to improve our relationship with our supervisors. First, and foremost, we can be better leaders.

We don’t have to be in charge, or have a management position, to be a leader. A leader can be anyone, despite rank, title or tenure. Leadership is not about power or prestige. A leader is someone who takes control of their lives to influence outcomes, which include creating a more gratifying relationship with our boss.

To work towards that ideal relationship, you can incorporate the following leadership techniques into your professional life:

* Don’t take things personally. Your supervisor’s mood swings or snide comments may get under your skin, but they shouldn’t affect your disposition. As a leader, you’re confident about who you are and you’re able to shrug off negativity before it weighs you down. Your supervisor’s bad attitude has nothing to do with you – so why take it personally? The less emotion you give to someone else’s unpleasant nature, the more energy you have to spread some light on your day. You can also use your optimism to make your coworkers days a little brighter. If you have a tough boss, chances are, they also need some cheering up.

* Set the example. Your words and actions set the tone for how you want to be treated. If you want more responsibility, prove yourself dependable. If you want loyalty, don’t disparage your boss to your coworkers. If you want more pay, justify your salary increase. Always hold yourself to a high professional standard, one that may even be higher than the one your boss holds for himself. When you set a positive example, you contribute to creating a more positive, professional environment.

* Earn respect, not praise. You may never be your boss’s best friend – and that’s okay. Stop looking for affirmation from your boss and start striving for respect, which can be earned by your hard work and integrity. You may never have the perfect relationship with your boss– but if you have her respect, then you’re in a great position to influences outcomes.

* Be an Effective Communicator. If you feel your boss’s attitude has become a roadblock, have the courage to voice your conce
s. Confrontation can be difficult, but it’s easier than suffering through a bad situation. Approach your boss with tact – choose your words carefully to ensure your message is received clearly. Prepare yourself with suggestions and ideas. Always have proposed solutions ready when you plan to highlight a problem. Chances are that your boss is unaware that his actions contribute to a poor work environment. You may be surprised how quickly your situation can improve.

Your strides towards leadership development will help you regain control of your professional life and will allow you to develop and maintain a positive relationship with your boss. While you cannot force another person to change, by being a leader you can influence professional behavior through your solid example. Each step you take towards becoming a stronger leader brings you closer to job satisfaction.

As you develop your leadership abilities, you become a person your supervisors will want to promote. This professional progress will allow you to have an even greater influence over your environment in the future.