Maximizing Campus Impact

Strategy #6: Make Your Boss's Goals Your Goals

Your boss is a client and an ally. He or she will be defending your organization, justifying its continued existence, securing or approving funding, and marketing your center in higher circles. It is to your advantage to make your boss look good, and if your goals and your boss's goals are the same, your success will be your boss's success.

Finding out what your boss's goals are can be daunting, especially within the hierarchical system of a university. For those who are able to, the most straightforward course is to sit down with your boss and talk about his or her goals. If that is not possible, look for clues wherever they may be; listen carefully in meetings, ask clarifying questions, and keep abreast of decisions made in your boss's arena. When you begin a project, meet with your boss and talk about how you plan to approach it. Lay out the goals as you see them, giving your boss a chance to respond by validating or clarifying what you have said.

The idea is to put yourself in the position of helping your boss look good to his or her superiors by framing your unit's objectives in the context of the larger goals of the institution. The point is not to flatter or ingratiate yourself with your boss, but to align your part of the organization with the greater direction of the college, school, campus, or university as a whole. Doing so will ensure that what you are doing is part of the larger picture.

If your relationship with your boss is not on a footing that makes it possible to have such a frank conversation, or if you are not blessed with a focused boss, the situation becomes a little more difficult. You may need to look further up the hierarchy for guidance: what are your boss's boss's goals? Look to where leadership is coming from, and align your goals with those goals. Knowing the larger picture, whether or not you know your what boss's goals are, can only help you position your organization to maximum effect.

How to Get There: Suggestions from Directors

Once you are aware of your boss's goals, the next step is to place your organization in a position to support and advance those goals. For that to happen, you need to understand, respect, and support your boss's objectives. Translate these into goals that your unit can meet, make sure that your focus aligns with these goals, and document your progress and successes.

• Manage your boss's expectations so that your goals are achievable. As with any other client, setting expectations early will reduce misunderstandings and disappointment later. Make sure your boss understands what your organization does and what the skills and strengths of your staff are, especially if he or she is new to the position or to the campus. Outline your focus, share past success stories, and talk about projects you plan or hope to be able to do in the future. Listen carefully to pick up any clues about objectives your boss may also have.
• Make sure that your boss mentions your organization in his or her self-evaluation. If your center's accomplishments support your boss's goals, those accomplishments will be included in reports by your boss. For this to happen, you need to demonstrate to your boss that your organization is meeting his or her goals. Market yourself not only to potential clients, but to your boss as well. Report milestones and outcomes that illustrate your, and therefore your boss's, success.
• Give your boss good things to say about you that directly support his or her goals. When your boss gives a speech, offer to write part of it – the part that talks about your organization. Share testimonials from clients who matter to your boss. Construct your annual report so that your boss can draw from it when he or she makes presentations.