by Michael Watkins
Your new boss will have more impact than anyone else over whether you succeed or fail. Your boss establishes benchmarks for your success, interprets your actions for other key players, and controls resources you need. Building a productive working relationship with him or her while you establish your mandate and negotiate for resources is a clear early priority.
When you think about working with your new boss, keep the following goals in mind:
- Clarify mutual expectations early.
- Secure commitments for the resources you need.
- Aim for early wins in areas important to the boss.
- Aim for good marks from those whose opinions your boss respects.