A new boss induces a sense of anxiety and fear. Oftentimes, they come with a new order. The new boss might decide to scale down operations or even render some employees redundant.
How you adapt and relate with them will determine which direction your career takes. Here, we look at the things you should do and those you should completely avoid when working under a new boss.
Know their style: The new boss will certainly be different from your former boss. Do not make comparisons or expect operations to run as they previously did. There might be new changes.
Perminus Wainaina, the head of recruitment and managing partner at Corporate Staffing Limited, a human resource firm based in Nairobi, says that you must understand what your new boss considers important in the new docket they are handling.
“Be quick to know what their working style is, what their temperament is, and what they are trying to achieve in the short term and long term,” says Mr. Wainaina.
Family talk: It might have been normal for you and your colleagues to engage your former boss on family talks as you worked away.
With the new boss, you should be careful to avoid the mistake of assuming that this will carry on. Not everyone wants to talk or discuss family.
“Don’t go asking your new boss how his or her family is; if he or she has kids and what they do! This may be intrusive and a breach of privacy,” says Ken Munyua, a psychologist and human resource practitioner.
In the same vein, keep your boundaries no matter how a new boss appears to be friendly. Do not get too familiar with them no matter how chit chatty they seem.
Munyua also says that by becoming too familiar, you will be exposing yourself to breaching work ethics for which the new boss will readily punish you.
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Turn complaints into suggestions: Once a new boss settles in, they will inevitably bring a host of changes. These may affect you in one way or another. As you adapt to their style of work, turn what you may consider to grievances into suggestions.
“Take whatever you are unhappy about your working environment and turn it into a suggestion. For example, if you never get minutes from the staff meeting you may say, ‘What if we used the first agenda slot at next week’s staff meeting to decide on how we’re going to distribute minutes every week?’ instead of ‘Staff meetings never get distributed!’” says Liz Ryan, a human resource expert and the author of Reinvention Roadmap.
Self-examination: If things are not going as expected, you may need to take a closer look at yourself. For example, do not simply fly off the handle if you had been anticipating promotion and the new boss has said no.
“You need to examine why the rejection has been made. Could it be that your new boss has found out that you need some panel beating before you can start to handle bigger responsibilities?” says Mr. Wainaina.
Seek their perspective: As often as you possibly can, try and seek their point of view. “A worker who is out to thrive will be keen enough to take their manager’s point of view. The manager’s perspective will help you to understand their plan, strategy and target better,” says Ms. Ryan.
This is echoed by George Bradt, an executive management consultant and the author of The New leader’s 100-Day Action Plan.
Communication style: Good communication at the workplace is a must. You will have to learn how to communicate with your new boss. Mr. Munyua says that the best way to adapt to their style of communication is by being fast in knowing how they prefer to communicate.
“There are bosses who don’t like to engage in after-work manager-employee communication. There are bosses, too, who are either morning or evening persons. For example, a boss who keeps to themselves in the morning but opens up in the afternoon,” says Munyua.
There are bosses too, who don’t like being called on their private numbers, or who don’t like receiving too many calls from their employees.
“You must know if your boss welcomes calls, text messages, or lengthy and wordy email correspondences. Draw your communication borders according to what they prefer,” says Munyua.