Collaborating with your manager is not only beneficial for your career development, but also for your team and organization. By aligning your goals, expectations, and feedback, you can build a trusting and productive relationship that helps you grow and perform. Here are some tips on how to collaborate with your manager to achieve career goals.
Different managers have different preferences, communication styles, and work habits. To collaborate effectively, you need to understand your manager's style and adapt to it. For example, some managers like frequent updates, while others prefer more autonomy. Some managers are more formal, while others are more casual. Some managers are more visionary, while others are more detail-oriented. Ask your manager how they like to work, what their expectations are, and how they prefer to communicate. Then, adjust your approach accordingly.
Take a queue from the famous Airtel Advert - BARRIERS BREAK WHEN PEOPLE TALK. Talking it out is one of the most efficient ways to collaborate. Conversations help to understand the thinking style, perspectives and vision. At the same time, it gives you an opportunity to express your thoughts, aspirations and strategies. The idea is to partner, and not to always follow. You both need to be aligned to one goal - doing what's right for the business. As long as there's a fundamental alignment at that level, collaboration becomes much easier since it becomes ONE goal, and not your vs my goal. Exchange feedback more often - Don't let it become an annual affair. Feedback on small deliverables help you prepare better for the larger goals.
There has to be two way communication between the person and the manager. The goals are to be clearly clarified and explained to the manager and one should start working towards it diligently which should also meet the organizational objectives. One should be open to feedback from everyone around and identify missing skill sets if any. Take initiative & keep learning. Establish regular follow up meetings to ensure you are in the right direction.
Collaborating with my manager/Director is key to achieving my career goals. I proactively seek feedback, embrace challenges, and stay flexible. Regular updates and open communication ensure we are aligned on tasks and moving toward company success.
In my experience knowing your managers working style and nature is very important to collaborate with your mangers decision to achieve your goals. Thats the easiest way to understand what you have to deliver within the timeline ensuring exact what is expected from you by your manager and organisation. More often connects with your managers provides more opinions what your managers thinks on your approach it will help you for decisions making where you should carry on your approach or you should change it little bit to make it more authentic and time efficient to achieve your goals.
I would prefer to have regular communication with manager and understand his prospective and your performance from his lenses. I will proactively work with my manager in case something is bothering him and will try to share the workload so that I can learn fast and enable him achieve success in his role.
One of the key aspects of collaborating with your manager is to share your career aspirations and interests. This way, your manager can support you in pursuing your goals, provide you with relevant opportunities, and connect you with the right resources. To share your career aspirations, you need to be clear about what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it. You also need to be realistic and flexible, as your goals may change over time or face challenges. Have regular conversations with your manager about your career plans and progress, and seek their advice and feedback.
If people don't know what your goal is, then they have a really hard time being able to support you in getting there. Hopefully you have found yourself in a position with a great manager that is supportive of your journey. If not....time to consider changing jobs. If you do have a supportive manager, then let them help you by sharing where you would like your career to head. Ask for their assistance on getting chosen for projects that support your career goals. Also ask for invitations to meetings that you normally may not have been invited to. Great managers get true joy out of helping their team to succeed but they can only help you if you let them.
Translate your career goal in the context of the organizational goal. Don't expect your manager to figure out how your goals fit in with the business. Be specific and look for ways that your can reach your goals while supporting the organization.
When accepting a new role it is important to reflect on what your objectives are for that role ie what do you wish to achieve professionally and personally. Your chances of success are likely to be tied to how closely your objectives match the organisation’s objectives. By sharing these objectives with your manager you can enlist their support in achieving a win:win for the organisation and for yourself.
When you’re starting out in your career, having a sponsor, or someone senior in your workplace who is invested in your growth and career progression, can help you get ahead. Here are some ways to turn your boss into a sponsor: Build credibility. Perform your tasks well and take on projects and responsibilities that increase your visibility in the organization. Understand your boss’ priorities. Having this conversation can give you clarity on what you need to focus on and where the opportunities lie for you within the organization. Make the ask. During a one-on-one meeting, ask them whether they’d be willing to be your sponsor and help you grow within the organization. Update them on your progress.
Effective communication is key. By approaching the conversation with a clear plan and a focus on collaboration, you increase the likelihood of getting your manager's support for your objectives.
Feedback and coaching are essential for your career development, as they help you identify your strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities for learning. To collaborate with your manager, you need to seek feedback and coaching proactively and constructively. Ask your manager for specific, actionable, and timely feedback on your performance, goals, and development. Listen to their feedback with an open mind, and show appreciation and willingness to improve. Also, ask your manager for coaching on how to develop your skills, overcome challenges, and achieve your goals. Follow their guidance and suggestions, and demonstrate your learning and growth.
Single most important thing to me re feedback - tell your manager how you best receive feedback …they are not a mind reader. Good / bad / good may be conventional wisdom…however many - especially high performers…don’t need to have the bad softened …and some, may miss the bad if sandwiched between two goods
Continuous improvement happens when we are willing to accept and work on the chinks in our armour that can come from your manager depending on their communication/feedback style. e.g. manager can give Indirect feedback or subtle hints on what went wrong, where and why. Make sure to be an equal partner in that feedback process. At times, we know what went wrong and where/why etc. but when we don't know that, we need to discuss that with our manager, share thoughts on how you think issue can be prevented in future to gain that trust. Equal participation in the feedback process ensures, mostly, that manager gets to know that you are willing to - (a) accept constructive feedback and (b) take charge to course correct.
Consider seeking a mentor / coach or your Manager who can provide ongoing guidance and support for your career development. Feedback and coaching are essential components of professional growth. Embrace them as opportunities to learn, adapt, and excel in your career.
We all NEED feedback and coaching to be the best versions of ourselves. Your manager plays a crucial part in this process. Don't stop with just asking how you are doing against your current role....go further. Ask your manager to provide you with feedback on how your skills are aligning with future jobs. Is there something key you are missing for that next role? What competencies should you be working on now to be able to take on an even bigger role in your future? The more data points you have the better you are able to get a true picture of where you stand and how you can take that next great leap forward in your career!
I believe a good way to collaborate with your manager for career goals is to establish some time for job shadowing. That way you can see daily tasks and responsibilities of a potential position beforehand to get a good understanding and see if it is a good fit.
Another important way to collaborate with your manager is to deliver on your commitments and responsibilities. This means that you need to meet or exceed your manager's expectations, follow through on your promises, and produce quality work. By delivering on your commitments, you show your manager that you are reliable, accountable, and professional. You also build trust and credibility, which can lead to more opportunities and recognition. To deliver on your commitments, you need to prioritize your tasks, manage your time, communicate your progress, and address any issues or concerns.
If you want your manager to consider you for extra career growth opportunities, you have to be able to deliver on what is front of you today. If your management team is concerned and focused on your performance on current projects, they won't be willing to look beyond it. Deliver on today and then ask for their help to move forward for your tomorrow.
Only Seeking feedback and coaching doesn’t work if you don’t progress and deliver the commitments, always make sure on what you have committed and try to deliver things before tat so that you have ample time to invest in learning new
This is related to my comments in the 1st point of this article. To be in the same page regarding the expectations and goals. Once you have that in place, you must fulfill as it was agreed, of course you may have challenges in the path, and that is why is also important to communicate them. Without a question your manager will trust you, and will rely on you.
One thing I have found is that when you are good at fulfilling you own tasks, more will be given unto you. You can not fail to do what you were employed to do yet expect your manager to give you other responsibilities. Do what you were employed to do first even if you hate it. As a manager I need people to do what was assigned to them first and when they struggle seek assistance. Then as I assist you in fulfilling your task I then learn more about you and may consider you for more complicated tasks but you must first show me your ability to complete initial task I gave you.
As many already have mentioned, communication and transparency is key for success. Set your goals and collaborate with your manager to understand what is achieved and exceed for each of the goals. Ensure you set follow on results if you achieve and exceed . Like if you exceed you would like an opportunity to do X. It gives your manager a chance to look out for opportunities and help communicate your passion to other leaders
Finally, to collaborate with your manager, you need to support their goals and vision. This means that you need to understand your manager's objectives, challenges, and priorities, and align your work with them. You also need to show initiative, creativity, and problem-solving skills, and contribute to your manager's success. By supporting your manager's goals, you show your manager that you are a valuable and loyal team player. You also demonstrate your potential, influence, and leadership skills, which can help you advance in your career.
By actively supporting your manager's goals, you contribute to the overall success of the team and organization. This collaborative approach not only helps your manager but also enhances your professional reputation and opportunities for growth within the company.
As I said earlier deputising your manager helps you to understand the pressure under the seat and you can make up yourself to handle that along with that it is important that you should contribute on your manager goals and evenly it is team work which helps your manager to achieve their goals, so walk an extra mile to contribute from your end
Supporting your manager's goals is one thing, supporting your organization's goals is another thing. Make sure both of these are aligned.
To effectively collaborate with your manager, understand and align your work with their goals, challenges, and priorities. Demonstrate initiative, creativity, and problem-solving skills, contributing to your manager's success. This support reflects loyalty, showcases your leadership abilities, and strengthens your position as a valuable team member. This approach not only benefits the team but also propels career advancement.
First understand the Manager's behaviour and approach. Try to put yourself in the situation and then think about the points for which you can give the input. Feedback and coaching is also a great idea. Raise the red flags before hand so that the lead/manager should be ready with explanation and facts. Support the team with lead/manager in the tough situations. Motivate the team also positive thoughts and the environment will give the boost. Thanks
Transform career goals into shared projects. Present a collaborative roadmap, highlighting how your objectives align with team and company targets. Invite your manager to co-pilot, leveraging their guidance and resources. This innovative collaboration not only extends personal growth but also fuels collective success.
While we do everything to support the organisation's goals, it is also equally important to make sure that the work that you do aligns with your perspective and goals.