Everyone else seems to get feedback, praise, constructive
criticism, or just plain attention. What
about you? Make sure to prick your ears
up and listen to your co-workers, what kinds of things is the boss saying to
them? If you are an office hermit, you
could just chalk it up to being considered unapproachable, even to your
boss. In most cases however, a boss may
avoid talking just to you if they fear confrontation. If this is so, they may likely be
dissatisfied with your work. Approach
them directly and honestly, tell them in person or via email "I want to do my
best. What can I improve on?" By saying
this you are allowing them to give you feedback without having to feel they are
attacking you. Asking this may be key to
fixing a problem that could have cost you the job. If this question seems too
bold, try asking for feedback on a specific task they are overseeing. Opening a positive channel of dialogue with
them is a great step to improving any relationship, even if you don’t
particularly like them, or vice versa.
The Slave Driver
Every time they see you they seem to have a new job for you
to do. It feels endless, and most importantly, it’s overwhelming. If you are on
overload, you can’t put up with it much longer, your work-quality is bound to
go down! (Or already is.) Your boss
probably does not realize how much work he/she is giving you, or how much you
already have. Nobody just wants the job
done, they want it done right. Make it
clear that your workload is already full and that you are pushing quality
standards. Take a deep breath. You have to do this tactfully. You probably want
(and deserve) to shout "I’m busy, really busy you insensitive jerk! Do your own
work! That’s not my job!" -- but don’t, hold back.
This won’t get you anywhere.
Realistically, telling your boss "I’m busy" or "It’s not my job to do
that," is a bad idea. They will likely
get fed up with it or take it the wrong way. Saying "I have a lot on my
schedule, do you have 15 minutes to help me sort out which tasks are most
important?" is a good way to approach this. If you are certain they will answer
rudely "It’s ALL important," try something more general like "Do you have 15
min. to help me go over some of these tasks? It’d really help me out." In the course of helping you sort this out,
he/she will begin to understand how much you have going on. If asking this in the middle of the workday
is impossible, find the time when it’s convenient to do so for your boss. Setup an appointment if necessary. Make sure
to go over your workload with them in person so they can’t ignore you with a
quick email or memo. Setup a set amount
of time so that they can’t run off or brush you aside. Having this time with them also allows you to
drop important hints or comments they need to know, especially if they are
assigning you work you aren’t equipped to handle.