Newsletter Archives / Today's Career Voice - November 2008
What to do if your boss isn't hands-on enough
It's great when you have a boss that knows how to be involved in your projects but also give you appropriate space. However, some bosses have an approach that is so hands-off they leave you wondering how to do your tasks or scrambling to find something to do next. If this rings all too true for you, read on for some sage advice.
Need some advice on how you should handle yourself when your boss is missing in action? Below are some valuable tips to help cope or even curb this situation:
Be proactive.
A first step could be trying to understand why your boss seems to be out of touch. Be considerate of their time by requesting a meeting to discuss current projects and your performance. Sometimes bosses have so much on their plates that they forget about the people they manage, and setting up a meeting shows that you are both a go-getter and considerate of their time.
If they're swamped, help lighten the load.
If your boss isn't involved enough because they're too busy, ask how you can help. If they jealously guard their tasks or don't seem to trust anyone else to complete them, ask for one task at a time and assure them that you take your work (and theirs) seriously and will do a great job. You may need to earn their trust gradually.
Don't let yourself get overwhelmed.
If you have a task that seems confusing and you need guidance, try to break the assignment into smaller pieces that will feel more manageable. If you can cut a single task down into steps, then you can tackle the steps one by one—and probably learn a lot along the way.
Seek guidance elsewhere.
It could be that your boss has a reputation for not being hands-on. If others at work know this is the case, you may be able to find someone else who understands your position and can offer some friendly guidance. If you ask for help with a good attitude, most people will do just about anything to help you succeed.
Be more independent.
If you are looking for tasks and your boss isn't available to give you any, ask around to see if others need help with anything. If not, clean your work space or tidy up that supply cabinet that needs organizing. Your good attitude and initiative will be noticed.
Whatever the reason for your boss not being involved, you can learn to adapt, still learn a lot, and have a good work experience. Whether you have a direct conversation with your boss, find help from others or find new things to do, you'll find a way to figure it out.
