What Does your Boss/Client Really Want?

Have you ever, during work, wondered what your boss or client really wants that could make them happy with you?

I believe it boils down to one thing:  they want you to make their life easier.

If you’re making their life more difficult, then perhaps you’re doing something wrong, and you need to look at alternative ways to lift some burden off their shoulders.

I could explain this with an example – I had engaged a consultant to organize my papers and complete an application for me. Now, I had provided her with a bunch of documents while I arranged for the rest of my papers. When she reached out to me to continue the application, she sent me the whole list of outstanding documents, including the ones that I had already provided to her. In effect, she made my life more difficult because I was left confused as to what documents were already in her possession. Also, she came across as sloppy and uninterested.

Similarly, I see errors in the law practice as well, some of which I have listed below:

• Not being on top of a matter and leaving the client to be the one following up with you – this often happens although I understand that lawyers are usually overburdened.
• Not guiding the client enough when asking them to provide you with a document.
• Requesting clients to complete forms/documents when you can do that for your client. Once you complete the document for the client, you could just ask them to confirm the details – you have to give your client the least possible work.
• Requesting clients for documents they have already provided you.
•  Not doing your research/homework before speaking to your supervisor.
• Asking clients to complete a task that you could do on behalf of your client. If the client can only complete it, then you could at least guide the client on how to go about the task.
• Discussing a problem without offering a solution.
• Not guiding the client when discussing options and solutions.

When you work hard, are diligent, or are considered a good employee/consultant, it is because you are effectively making someone's life easier.

If you find yourself not going out of your way to do something, then maybe you’re not in the right job, or you’re not passionate enough about what you’re doing. If you were, then you would want to do a good job and think of ways to erase a problem from your boss’s/client’s list. Of course, sometimes you could just be working for the wrong client, particularly those who don’t pay you enough as that leaves you feeling resentful towards them – this calls for a renegotiation with the client.

I recognise that there can't be a one-size-fits-all answer, and you could just be working with a challenging personality. That said, in my experience, even the most difficult people whom I’ve worked with somehow cool down when I’ve made their life easier.

What do you think about the above? What do you think makes bosses/clients happy?