4qtr2005 - Feature Article – Helping Bosses Help

Much has been written about the dysfunction of bosses – and rightly so. But this is not an article about that. Instead, it's an article about how bosses really DO help, the tools they have at their disposal TO help, and what that all might mean to you.

In its simplest sense, there are only four things that bosses can do for you. But the BIG FOUR are incredibly powerful tools that can dramatically help you work through almost any problem you may be grappling with. And even more importantly, bosses have surprising discretion in using the BIG FOUR when they feel it’s appropriate to do so.

So what are the BIG FOUR? What is it that bosses can provide that so many others in your organization cannot? Let’s take a look:

1. Bosses can provide you with ADDITIONAL TIME - Notwithstanding your best efforts, your project/report/whatever is running late and the consequences are untenable - unless, of course, your boss grants you an extension.
2. Bosses can provide you with ADDITIONAL MONIES - In many organizations, budgets are considered sacred. It doesn’t matter that you see a particular piece of equipment, or software, or some other potential purchase, as essential. If it’s not in the budget, you’re probably not getting it – unless, of course, your boss approves an overage.
3. Bosses can provide you with ADDITIONAL NON-MONETARY RESOURCES - Who doesn't have too much to do with too few resources? A temp, consultant, coworker, etc., would be a welcomed addition to your work effort if only they were available. But they’re usually not – unless, of course, your boss approves the temporary (or dare I say permanent) assistance.
4. Bosses can provide you with ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Sometimes, decisions don’t make sense because, well, they’re lousy decisions! More often than not, though, they don’t make sense because there are pieces of the story you just don’t know. The same could be said for certain planning efforts, as well – unless, of course, your boss provides you with some added insights and information to help put things in a broader/more relevant context.

So now that you know WHAT the BIG FOUR are, how can you get your boss to utilize them in support of your work efforts?

Step 1 – On a clean piece of paper, list each specific open work item that you are struggling, or could use some help, with.

Step 2 – For each assignment, ask yourself the following operative questions:

• How could ADDITIONAL TIME, MONIES, NON-MONETARY RESOURCES, and/or INFORMATION make this assignment significantly easier to successfully complete?


• Precisely how much ADDITIONAL TIME, MONIES, NON-MONETARY RESOURCES, and/or INFORMATION would be needed?


• How would you put this ADDITIONAL TIME, MONIES, NON-MONETARY RESOURCES, and/or INFORMATION to use?


• If you were given the ADDITIONAL TIME, MONIES, NON-MONETARY RESOURCES, and/or INFORMATION you feel you need, would that be all you’d need to successfully complete this assignment?

Step 3 – Complete the following template for each work item:

Step 4 – Meet with your boss to explain your situation clearly and succinctly in terms of the BIG FOUR. By doing so, you’ll not only articulate exactly what it is that your boss can do to help, but you’ll also frame your conversation in a way that will make it easier for your boss to agree with your request(s).

Note: Many people have a tendency to ask for less than they really need, not wanting to look too needy or greedy. But this is not a time for that. While there’s never any guarantee that you’ll actually get what you ask for, there is no quicker way to lose your boss’s trust than to have him/her authorize what you asked for only to later learn that it wasn’t enough to appropriately address the situation.

Lastly, be sure to complete – and bring with – whatever paperwork your boss will need to sign to approve your request (e.g. purchase order, requisition, approval memo, etc.). It will save time AND make you look really good to be able to offer it up as soon as your boss agrees to help.