How to Improve Communication With Your Line Manager
- 1). Get to know your manager, their likes and dislikes, as well as personality and character. Knowing this will help you to adjust your communication style and approach to best suit both of your needs.
- 2). Avoid being too friendly with your boss. While it may seem like a good idea, it can result in some awkward situations, such as your manager feeling they are unable to give you negative feedback; vital for your personal and professional development.
- 3). Schedule meetings with your manager to discuss your career aspirations, suggestions, and concerns. This will promote communication between both of you, and allow each of you to understand the other's position and feelings.
- 4). Be prepared before you approach your boss with a suggestion on how to improve processes or procedures, as the manager may ask you questions on cost, ease of implementation, and so on. Being prepared will show you are serious about your proposition and allow you to enter into detailed discussions.
- 5). Show appreciation and thank your manager when they do something which you approve of, such as rewarding team efforts or standing up for the interests of your department. This will encourage a repeat of this behavior.
- 6). Ask as many questions as you can. Many people are afraid to ask their managers questions for fear of seeming incompetent. Instead, asking questions shows that you are eager to learn, and allows you to enter into communication with your boss.
