Manage your boss - how to play your cards right

I See You, and I'll Raise You

Think about asking for your next raise. You know that the job market is pretty tight, but before asking for the moon, gather some information on what comparable jobs are paying at other companies. Then put your research, your specific objectives including the actual numbers, and your reasons on paper. Send these to your boss ahead of time so he has time to think about them. Go into the meeting prepared to listen and consider all the options offered. You don't have to threaten to leave -- that part is implied. Whatever the outcome, be sure to finish the meeting on a positive note. You should have control over your own career.

Are You Calling Me a Cheater?

Asking for a raise is a pretty familiar scenario. But what if you think your boss is doing something illegal or unethical? Should you tell someone? If so, how should you do it? Before you act, make sure you have enough facts to back up your accusation. Then formulate a plan, evaluate the risks and prepare for some difficulty. You're threatening someone's livelihood, so be prepared to suffer a few accusations yourself. To minimize your own personal damage, adhere to the following guidelines:


• List the risks and the possible results. Plan your strategy if you succeed and what you'll do if you don't.

• Evaluate your reputation. The more highly regarded you are, the more likely people will pay attention and believe you.

• Discreetly find out if others have had the same experiences with your boss. Then get them to go along with you. Group consensus is always more plausible than a single complainant.

• Find out what the procedures are for these types of complaints. Make sure you stick to them and take good notes.

Let's See What You've Got

What if your boss makes a business decision you don't agree with? Should you take the issue over his head, or just grin and bear it? When faced with this kind of dilemma, assess the issue carefully and determine whether it is worth the hassle, because there are certain to be some hard feelings. Try the direct approach. Ask your boss if you might try out the idea on some other executives. The answer may just be, 'Go ahead.' It could also be 'Get lost.' In any case, get your resume ready. You may decide that transferring or jumping ship is preferable to the end run.

Nicely Played (or Playing It Nice)

Finally there's the management tool called flattery or schmoozing. Some say the best businesses are led by the people who ignore flattery and value those who tell the truth. Be that as it may, there are many places in the real world where kissing up works.

Randall Gordon, a University of Michigan psychologist who reviewed 69 studies on the topic, concluded, 'Ingratiation shrewdly employed will get you ahead. If you have two people who are both competent at what they do, but one is really good at schmoozing...the one likely to get the raise is the schmoozer. It gives you the edge.'

Another professor, Ronald Deluga of Bryant College, studied 152 sets of supervisors and employees who fessed up to trying to flatter their bosses. He concluded that the flatterers actually had a 5 percent edge over the nonflatterers in their evaluations. 'No one wants to do it,' he says, 'but you are at a disadvantage if you don't -- and no one wants to take that risk.'