This week, I checked in with a past client to see how he was doing. He replied that he had started a new job and thought it was going well. The pay was good, and he was learning a lot in his new role. He did mention one concern: He thought his boss didn’t like him.
Ugh. I’ve been there before. Honestly, who hasn’t? If you get your first job as a teenager and retire at 65, you will work 50 years, give or take. Odds are, this will happen to you.
Starting a new job can be stressful. Most of us go in trying to be friendly and to display confidence in our knowledge and experience. We take notes, ask questions, and do our best to figure out how to use the company’s systems, who to talk to when we need it, and how to actually perform the expected work tasks and get them done on time.
If you ask too many questions, colleagues may find you needy. If you display too much confidence, you may rub people the wrong way. If you don’t get your work done correctly and on time, they may find you annoying. The upshot here: you have to find a balance. Ask the big questions, but be sure you use the advice you are given. Be confident, but be quiet about it. Praise others before you praise yourself. Thank people effusively. And avoid unnecessary interactions with individuals who don’t seem to like you.
You can do your best in all these areas, and still, you might lose. Candidates are hired because they are qualified. But they are kept if they fit into the company culture. If you don’t, you better get every other aspect of your new role as quickly as possible, or you might find yourself out of a job.
So, what can you do if your boss doesn’t like you?
I found some good advice in the articles below, which I shared with my client. If you are worried your boss doesn’t like you and need ideas on what you can do, read on.
What to Do If Your Boss Doesn’t Like You (Harvard Business Review)
Ten Things Never, Ever To Tell Your Manager (Forbes)
A Tactical Guide to Managing Up: 30 Tips from the Smartest People We Know
