I Hate Surprises!

It is fundamental that your relationship with your boss is of make or break importance. It will determine your team’s and your progression. Even after knowing this, at times we tend to take it lightly or too seriously bordering to sycophancy. A right balance is what your boss, you and your team needs.

I am starting a series of experiences and practices of working along with your boss.

 I hate surprises!

Surprises are only for kids. And that too restricted only while gifting them, preferably gift they have already told you about. Don’t try surprising anybody other than that (no, not with your wife as well).

Good or bad, either ways. Yes, Good is equally harmful as bad. I remember a conversation with one of my boss, after we achieved our targets. I went to him thinking he would be pleasantly surprised and would be happy for it. Instead he said that I had blindfolded him in the journey and achieving the target was a chance (yes, a chance!) and he was never comfortable throughout. I learnt my lesson the hard way – and since then have never made a mistake about this kind ever.

Some bosses are outright enough to announce that they hate surprises. Everybody likes to know what’s going on. Why? Because it gives the comfort of influencing the course/result. The power of control. Business, is far from watching a suspense movie. Keeping the boss in loop does not mean, you send just the status mail. Understand what he or she would like to know and ensure that he knows that. Your mail getting buried in heap of other mails is a likely scenario. Right title for the mail, followed by an acknowledgement seeking mail/confirmation, phone call or if he is around a casual verbal confirmation – do whatever is necessary.

Bad news, if had to be a surprise – and you had to be the one to break it – pray that the messenger being shot is just a myth. Even if the problem is not from your area, but if you know that the upcoming problem is important for your boss to know – give a heads up. Appraise him of the situation.

If the bad news is from your area, and your boss knows about it from someplace else, worst from his own boss – then for what happens next, don’t be surprised.

Bosses when are remote, the appraising part becomes all the more important. Remoteness, increases the anxiety multifold.

Be sure that your boss is aware of the issues/problems faced by you, the actions undertaken by you and your team, the health of the system, the anticipated outcomes etc. That does not mean that now that you have told about your problems to your boss so now it is his turn to worry or find a solution – it is just about not surprising him. Yes, unfortunately, everything else, you still have to do.