How to Behave Around the Boss

“If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldn’t have a job if he was any smarter.”  – John Gotti

Trust us, you didn’t want to be fired by John Gotti.  Let’s just say he did not pay unemployment…

Whether we think our boss is stupid, brilliant, inspiring or oppressive, we must remember one thing – they are our boss.  By the very nature of that relationship, there are groundrules that, if followed, will significantly improve our relationship with the head honcho.  Our ultimate goal is not to be a brown-nosing pushover that everyone in lab resents.  Rather, we aim to establish a solid relationship with the boss that results in more freedom and respect than we may have otherwise enjoyed.

To make the most of the interactions with our boss, follow these steps.

Know how the lab works

When joining a lab, understand how the system works.  Some bosses hire senior postdocs or Research Professors to act as managers in the lab, fielding most of the routine concerns and questions.  Some bosses prefer to know every detail of what’s going on.  While every lab is different in structure, chain-of-command and personality, one thing is always true: the boss is at the top, so follow their rules.

Understand where we fit in

The roles of graduate students and postdocs are different, and the boss will see it that way as well.  Don’t let ego get in the way of recognizing where we fit on the totem pole – everyone starts out as the bottom at some point.  As a graduate student, we’re the newby.  Initiall, we should be listening attentively and learning how to perform experiments.  As a postdoc, we should be thinking independently and driving projects.  When talking to the boss, we should be aware of how our position in the lab affects what they expect from us.

Find out how they like to be addressed

When interacting with wild animals, they teach us not to look them in the eyes and to approach them with our fingers curled under to look like a paw.  This is for our safety, not the animal’s…

To find out how to avoid a potential attack, turn to the lab.  Specifically, find the members that seem to have good relationships with the boss.  To be clear, this doesn’t mean they love the boss.  It simply means they’ve figured out how to interact with them in a positive way.  Maybe they pop their head into the boss’ office whenever they have a particularly good result.  Or maybe they only schedule meetings early in the morning when the boss is almost always in a great mood.  Whatever it is, find out.  Be direct and ask people what their secret is.

Be Professional

Remember, the laboratory is not just a place of discovery – it’s a place of work.  This can often be overlooked, particularly in academic settings, where the atmosphere may not always reflect this. Imagine we’re the boss – do we want to see someone loaf into our office 15 minutes late with an armful of papers in disarray?  Or would we rather have someone knock on our door, right on time, with an organized notebook and a short agenda for the discussion?

Believe it or not, the boss is busy (or should be…).  Show them that you value their time by being prepared, clear and concise.  Make all interactions courteous and respectful, even when disagreeing.  Like we learned in kindergarten: do unto others… you know the rest.

Be a problem solver

I will never forget one of the first group meetings I ever attended.  One student stated that since the dialysis tubing was backordered for three months at the company we previously ordered from, their experiments were going to be on hold for a few months until the tubing arrives.  We waited for the punchline, but there was none – the student was completely serious.  They should be lucky they didn’t work for John Gotti…

When a problem arises, solve it.  Find another company.  Ask another lab.  Never stop developing viable next steps.  Bosses want to know that we’re in control of the project, that we’re thinking rationally and that we’re taking the right steps to make progress.  Failing to deal with problems ourselves is a sure way not to earn our boss’ respect.

Know when to talk and when to listen

It’s impossible to talk and listen at the same time.

When the boss starts talking, even if they’ve interrupted us, stop talking and listen.  Their point may be valid, it may be crazy, but just listen.  Once they’ve finished, count to two and then answer them.  Ideally, incorporate some of what they just said into the answer to show them we were listening.  For example, “I agree that yield has been the major problem with this reaction, which is why I suggest we…”

A “discussion” with both people speaking at the same time is just a waste of time.  Being interrupted is incredibly frustrating.  However, stopping to listen will allow us to understand and address their concerns sooner.

Successfully dealing with the boss will require effort and restraint.  However, by establishing a pattern of respect and consideration, most bosses will respond in kind.  This is our best chance to avoid “swimming with the fishes”…

Have any other successful ways to deal with the boss?