Good Employee-Boss Communication is Key to a Successful Workplace Environment.
The employee-boss relationship is essential to a successful and fulfilling career no matter your industry. A lack of understanding and poor communication between you and your boss can make a negative impact on the working relationship, to the point of feeling miserable at work or incapable of doing your job. Your boss is the person who impacts the receipt of your paycheck and quality and quantity of work, so establishing good communication with him is vital to your bottom line.
Effective Workplace Communication
The best way to start toward a good relationship with your boss is to determine her communication preferences. Does she prefer to communicate with you in person, email or over the telephone? Your boss may have different preferences based on the importance of the issue at hand. Make note of this and attempt to follow her desires wherever possible.
Remember that timing is everything. If your boss is on a deadline or on her way out for the day, it might not be the best time to ask mundane questions about a company meeting weeks away or your desire for a raise. If you cannot seem to catch your boss at the right time, make an appointment. Being prepared does not hurt either, so make sure you have got the correct information you need. Bring appropriate documentation where appropriate.
When communicating with your boss via the written word, whether email or memo, remain accurate and proofread your work to make sure it is free of errors. A piece of communication riddled with spelling mistakes and grammar errors tells your boss you are lazy or unprofessional. When communicating with your boss in person, non-verbal communication says as much if not more than what you actually say. Try to appear relaxed and engaged in the conversation while maintaining appropriate eye contact.
Good communication in an employee-boss relationship also includes boundaries. It may be appropriate for you to talk casually with your boss at an after-work function, but maintain your distance and do not reveal too much. It is doubtful your boss cares or wants to know about the fight you just had with your boyfriend, but she may enjoy hearing more about your education and family life. After enough time working with your boss, you should be able to gauge her level of comfort with communicating about non-work-related issues.
When in doubt, remain professional. Knowing your responsibilities in your position and maintaining a rapport with your boss that is both friendly and formal will help you establish a good working and communicating relationship and will set you on the path to career fulfillment.
