Regardless of whether you’ve just started your first job or are pretty far ahead in your career path, having a good relationship with your boss is a good idea. It’s not a matter of being an kiss-ass or the office pet, it’s about building a relationship for the bigger picture.

Any person you meet in your life may play a part in it at some time or the other, and this holds especially true for anyone you meet in your work life: case in point: your boss. You want to have people in your life who will speak highly of you and your professional capabilities. Needless to say, it is important to say, maintaining a good relationship with your boss goes a long way; here are some tips on handling your relationship with your boss:

 

 

THEY CHANGE OVER TIME.
Your relationship with your boss today isn’t necessarily going to be the relationship you have with your boss a few years from now. Don’t get too hung up on the current relationship. When you work for someone the relationship is always going to be intensified.
Eventually, you will both move on and the relationship will develop accordingly. Do your best and don’t get too hung up on what the relationship will look like five years from now.

 

RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERY BOSS WILL BE DIFFERENT.
Some will be great and others not-so-great–it’s typically a personality thing. Some bosses are going to notice some things about you and others will notice other things. Your personality might rub one boss the right way but another boss another way. Such is work life.

 

DON’T LET YOUR BOSS’S MOOD BUG YOU.
The best thing you can do is be consistent–personality wise and work wise. Some people are moody. You can’t change who someone is. Be aware of your boss’s mood and then go on with your day like normal. The best thing you can do for your boss’s mood is act as you normally do. Be the consistent force they can rely on. Don’t let your boss’s mood affect you. You have no idea what they are dealing with after hours.

 

DON’T WAIT FOR PRAISE.
Why does someone need to tell you that you are doing a good job? Why can’t you be confident in the work you are putting out into the world? Some people get so caught up in waiting for praise that they get frustrated when the accolades don’t come around frequently. Be confident in your abilities. You are expected to do a good job and to do your work–that’s part of the job description.

 

IF YOU’RE GOING TO TAKE OFF WORK…
Try to provide as much advance notice as possible when going out of town or taking days off. Let your boss plan for this as much as possible and of course, only take sick days when really needed. Successful executives need reliable consistent people who aren’t going to take advantage of their time.

 

GET IN BEFORE YOUR BOSS.
Many executives say that it’s a great feeling to walk into work every day and see the same person sitting there–day after day. These busy executives need someone to rely on, someone to depend on. The more trust they build with you, the more projects they will send your way. When you are a consistent face that your boss sees in the morning and can rely on to be there already running the show that is a great thing. It will also give you time to prepare for what the day brings.

 

DON’T LEAVE THE OFFICE BEFORE YOUR BOSS LEAVES.
Leaving before your boss doesn’t set a great precedent. Just sit tight, get organized, and work on tomorrow’s to-do list or work pile. If you’re out of tasks to do, read the industry trades–make the most of your time in the office. You don’t want your boss to come out of his or her office and see you on Facebook regardless of whether it’s after 6 p.m.

 

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE BEST FRIENDS WITH YOUR BOSS.
They don’t need to know everything about you or your personal life. Unless your boss sends you a friend request, don’t be Facebook friends. It’s okay to follow your boss on Twitter as it’s not as intimate a network as Facebook.
It’s also okay for you to follow them on Instagram if their profile is public. You would like to avoid a situation where you’re supposed to take work home over the weekend, you forget to do it, and your boss sees photos of you and your friends getting wasted in Pokhara all weekend.

 

EMPOWER YOUR BOSS.
Make him or her look good. Think about what you can do to make your boss look great.

 

PICK YOUR BATTLES WISELY.
There will come a time when something happens and you need to confront your boss. We all get to that point in our early careers. But you can’t pick every fight. You can’t have a new bone to pick with your boss every day. Think long and hard about the battles you want to pick and if these battles will be worth it in the long run. Some people start talking back and arguing with their bosses and then they can’t stop. At the end of the day, this is your boss–not your friend. It’s work. Don’t take it personally.