How to turn your boss into a Genuine Career Ally

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Most people have a manager. Some even have great ones. But what if you could take more ownership of the relationship — and turn your boss into a genuine career ally?

This short One Simple Thing episode explores one powerful mindset shift that could change everything. 

Part of a series on how to be brilliant at the basics of leadership.

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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:05):
Welcome to Leading People with me, Jerry Murray.
This week it's One Simple Thing,where in each episode I share a
quick, actionable tip to helpyou bring out the best in
yourself and others.
One simple thing is created foryoung leaders.

(00:27):
But hey, us older folks canstill learn a thing or two.
Ask my dog, he's learned a fewnew tricks recently.
Here's a question for you.
Have you ever had a boss whobrought out the best in you?
You trusted them.
You clicked.
You got more done together thanyou ever could alone.
Even their feedback when thingsdidn't go so well felt

(00:49):
constructive.
It helped you grow.
Now contrast that with a bosswho left you feeling anxious,
drained, or demoralized.
A boss who took credit, gaveblame, micromanaged, set you up
to fail, or simply didn't seemto care.
If you've experienced both, thenyou already know something very

(01:12):
powerful.
Your boss can be the best thingor the worst thing in your
working life.
And here's the reality.
Most of us have a boss.
Even leaders, even seniorleaders.
Unless you're the CEO.
And even then you probably got aboard or investors to answer to.

(01:35):
So how do you get the best outof that relationship?
Do you wait for them to manageyou well?
Or do you take ownership andlearn to manage up
strategically, ethically, andconstructively?
It turns out when you make yourmanager successful, it makes it
easier for them to support yoursuccess.

(01:56):
That means not just deliveringresults, but avoiding one of the
most common traps.
Bringing them monkeys.
Monkeys?
A monkey is an unresolvedproblem that you hand off
without clarity or context.
It climbs off your back and ontotheirs.
But great team members learn tomanage those monkeys better.

(02:19):
They come with solutions, theycommunicate proactively, and
they help their boss lead well.
So, here's one simple thing toremember.
Managing your boss well helpsyou succeed.
And yes, it takes effort, butthe payoff can be huge.

(02:44):
Are you making the most of thatopportunity?
If that sounds like a shiftworth exploring, you might want
to take it further.
Our Team Leader Essentials andAccelerating Performance
programs are designed to helpleaders just like you bring out
the best in yourself and others.

(03:05):
And in fact, Team LeaderEssentials includes an entire
module on how to workeffectively with your own
manager so that you can takeownership of your success and
avoid unnecessary careerfriction.
Check out the link in the shownotes.
And that's another one simplething.

(03:31):
Thanks for tuning in.
Remember, small steps can leadto big changes.
Test out this one simple thingand notice how it transforms
your day.
Let me know how you get on.
Reach out on LinkedIn andconnect with me.
Mention the podcast.

(03:55):
And if you'd like to learn moreOne Simple Things, then
subscribe to this podcast onyour favorite podcast channel
and follow our LinkedIn leadingpeople.
In our next episode of OneSimple Thing, we'll explore

(04:15):
another easy way to be a greatleader by bringing out the best
in yourself and those aroundyou.
And in between, you can checkout one of my longer
conversations with leadingpeople about, yes, you've
guessed it, leading people.
So until then, keep exploringand stay curious.