11 Ways to Impress Your Boss

No matter your line of work or career goals, it always pays to make an effort to get on your boss’s good side. These moves are apt to make your manager think highly of you, which means that the next time a promotion comes along, you just might snag it. 

ALSO READ: How to Earn a Promotion at Work

It’s one thing to know the basics of your job, but it’s another thing to push yourself to learn continuously. The more time you spend reading up on your industry and identifying trends, the more your boss is bound to appreciate your effort. So attend seminars on your own time, read articles during your lunch break, and make every effort to boost your knowledge base. 

Like it or not, meetings are a part of office life. But if you want to impress your boss, be that person who’s always prompt as far as meetings go. When you get to work each morning, review your calendar to see where you need to be and when. Then, make a point to be waiting in each respective conference room by the time your boss or colleagues arrive. 

When you’ve been at the same job for a while, it’s easy to let things be if they technically aren’t broken. But if you make an effort to come up with new approaches to existing processes, your boss will no doubt appreciate that innovation -- especially if it increases productivity or saves your company money. 

On every team, there are always those tasks that nobody wants to handle. But it pays to be the one person who’s willing to do what no else is up for, because there’s no way your manager won’t notice it. The next time your boss presents a daunting assignment, step up and agree to take it on. And then do a killer job to further drive home the message that you’re just plain awesome.  

ALSO READ: 6 Ways to Get Ahead at Work

Sometimes, having outside support can make your team work more efficiently. So if you take steps to establish relationships with other teams within your company, you may come to find that your team’s output improves. And that’s something that’ll make your boss look good. 

When conflicts arise at the office, it’s easy for otherwise even-tempered employees to instantly lose their cool. So if you’re able to remain calm when others are duking it out, your boss will be sure to appreciate your professionalism. The next time you find yourself drawn into a power struggle, keep your cool, hear the other side out, and aim to arrive at a compromise. 

We all make mistakes at work, but it’s how we handle them that sets us apart from the pack. The next time you mess up on the job, own up to it and don’t make excuses for it. Rather, proactively approach your boss, admit your mistake, and review the ways you’re planning to fix it. Rather than get upset at your blunder, there’s a good chance your manager will quickly forget it and focus on your integrity instead. 

Supporting your colleagues is one of the best ways to prove your value to your boss. The next time you see a coworker struggling, jump in and help. Similarly, if there’s a project someone else is assigned that’s not progressing adequately, offer to assist, even if it’s not your responsibility. Your boss will no doubt take notice and come to appreciate you even more. 

ALSO READ: How to Build a Cohesive Team at Work

Nobody’s perfect, and it’s your manager’s job to offer tips on how you might improve your performance. So rather than get defensive when your boss provides constructive criticism, express your gratitude for it and affirm your willingness to take it into account. Humility is a quality that managers tend to appreciate, and displaying some will go a long way.

In the course of your job, you’re bound to face situations where the odds are stacked against you. Maybe your boss wants you to complete a task in a day that would normally take two. No matter the specifics, rather than throw your hands up in defeat, approach the task with as positive an attitude as possible. Even if you do end up falling short, your boss will be more likely to appreciate your effort. 

ALSO READ: Doing this 1 Thing Might Make You More Engaged and Productive at Work

We all spend a huge chunk of time dealing with email at work. And as much as you probably have more pressing things to do, it pays to respond to your messages thoroughly and professionally -- especially those that come from your boss. Rather than rush through your work emails, review your messages before sending to ensure that they’re well-thought-out and devoid of grammatical errors. The more polished you sound, the more highly your boss will think of you. 

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.