When you start at a new job you need to know that your new boss is going to have the most impact on your professional career at that organization than anyone else. Whether you succeed or fail is totally dependent on your new boss as he can help you grow or inhibit your growth by making it impossible for you to work.  Your boss is the one person who is evaluating you from day one by establishing goals and benchmarks for your successful performance; he evaluates your actions and methods of dealing with other key players, and manages and controls all the resources that you need. Getting off on the wrong foot with your new boss can create a lot of difficulties at your new job and often you might find it difficult to continue in the job if your boss does not like you.
The key to maintaining a successful relationship with the boss is to build upon a productive working relationship. This will make it easier for you to perform the tasks that have been assigned to you without having to face problems from your boss.
Dealing With Your New Boss:
Dealing with your new boss can be easy or difficult depending on how you begin your tenure at a company and how apt you are at dealing with the problems at hand. Here are some of the suggestions which can help you in dealing with your new boss effectively on a long term basis.
Discuss Your Mutual Expectations:
You need to be able to clarify your mutual expectations early into the new job. You need to begin working on the expectations of your boss right away. Ask your boss on the very first day what he expects from you and make clear what you expect from the job as well. If you feel like your boss has some unrealistic expectations from you, do not panic. It is better to assess the situation first and then go to the boss with statistics. You can then tell him why his expectation is unrealistic and what can be done to make the situation better. It is better to tell the boss that the deadline is unrealistic and a certain project cannot be completed within the given time beforehand rather than trying to meet the deadline unsuccessfully and then providing explanations as to why you were unable to complete the task.
Get Commitment From the Boss:
Since you are expected to perform well during the entire probation period, you must get all the resources necessary for completing the tasks that have been assigned to you. Do not feel shy or be hesitant to ask for something which is needed to perform the job effectively and the absence of which can delay the project deadline.
Plan for Instant Success:
When you start at a new job, your boss is expecting to see some quick successes and your ability to make the deadlines and finish projects without any delays will be judged based on your performance in the first weeks on the job. Make sure that you find out which of the tasks assigned to you are top priority and work on finishing those within the given time period so that you have some success to show for yourself if your boss evaluates you.
Establish a System:
For dealing effectively with a new boss, the most important thing is to establish a working relationship with the boss, which means that you need to have a proper system for interacting and communicating with him. The most essential step is to figure out how you and your boss will be working together in the future and make sure that the system suits both your and the boss’s requirements.
Keep the Communication Door Open:
If there is miscommunication or rather lack of direct communication between you and the boss, there can be misunderstandings which will inadvertently complicate your relationship. So whenever you have an issue or a problem, rather than discussing it with your co workers and colleagues, it is better to talk to the boss or even send an email and make sure that your are clear on your point of view so that there is no room for misunderstandings.
Think like the Boss:
When you are dealing with a new boss, it is best to imagine yourself in his shoes. If you are used to having people work for you, you can understand what you expect from them which in turn can give you an insight as to what you boss expects from you. Being an understanding and insightful employee will help you in developing a productive working relationship which will reflect positively on your career as well.
What to Avoid When Dealing With the New Boss:
There are some common mistakes we all make from time to time which often create a bad impression on the new boss and are hard to undo. Avoid making some of these common mistakes which can lead to a lot of problems with the boss:
Unwillingness to Learn:
Many people feel that they are totally qualified which is why they got the job and hence are not too keen on learning on the new job. This is one of the biggest mistakes as the learning process on job keeps going on for as long as you are in the industry and thinking that you have learnt all there is to any specific job is a folly that gets you negative attention from the boss.
Trying Too Hard:
Taking up too much work in the initial few days just to impress the boss and create a good impression often has the opposite effect. Taking up too much work will lead to missing important deadlines and making careless mistakes which in turn creates a bad impression on the boss.
Gossiping With the Coworkers:
One of the most important things to avoid when you are at work whether at a new job or an old one is gossiping with your coworkers, about the boss or other coworkers.  A gossip monger is not appreciated by any boss and if you get a reputation for gossiping, your boss and colleagues will stop trusting you and soon enough you will feel alienated at the work place.