Why Your Manager Is So Bad

How to Build a Constructive Loyalty Relationship

The first step toward building a constructive relationship is understanding.

This article is one of a series about how to build a relationship with your manager that gets you what you want on the job when you want it. You’ll find links to the other articles at the bottom.

The content is based on Help Your Boss Help You by Ken Kousen, published by The Pragmatic Bookshelf. Hint: read to the end of the article for a promo code.

Good managers are a joy to work for. A good manager fights organizational battles on your behalf. A good manager represents you in meetings so you don’t have to go, thereby providing you with the isolation you need to do your job without the constant interruptions and distractions. A good manager gets you the resources you need without constantly forcing you to justify small expenditures. A good manager stands up for you when problems arise, either from issues that arise outside your group or because you made a mistake and need an ally.

Working for a good manager is easy. You don’t need advice on how to work for good managers, because if you do something they don’t like, they’ll tell you. Good managers assume it’s part of their job to give you…