How do you get your new boss to give you 15 minutes

[jennika]

I have a coworker who just started for a new manager.  He expects her to do his calendar, file, yet hasn't taken the time to take 15 minutes and express his expectations or what he actually wants her to do.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the person time.  He writes things in a written calendar so she can't "schedule" herself some time.  Every time he promises her time, things or people come up.    She would jump in and just start monitor email and calendar but wants simple go ahead first.

I guess it is because I actually see she tries that I am dumbfounded with suggestions.  Anyone have any?

[Atlanta Z3]

I would notice his start time, and follow him in his office with two cups of coffee or tea, shut the door behind me.  It might be bold, but the drink softens the blow.  Have a short list of questions maybe 3 or 4 to get started, keep the "meeting" to five minues, but close with a firm time for a follow up.  Who knows this could become the standard start to the day or maybe the start for a week, until she gets a better feel for the position.

[claudiamag]

I would do exactly as Atlanta suggested.  Also, I would go ahead and jump in and start monitoring the email and calendar, that way during the first meeting she can tell her manager what she has been doing so far.  If he expects something different, he can express that to her then.  If not, then she can just go ahead with what she is doing.  This would show some initiative on her part and give him a starting point to go from so he can express his expectations.

I did this with a boss I started working with about a year ago.  He was so busy traveling from the first day, that I never actually got a chance to chat with him before starting.  I just went ahead and started monitoring his calender and sending him reminders and preparing reports that I knew he would need.  When he finally returned to the office, we had a good starting point of what needed to be done.  From then on, I go into his office first thing in the morning and just ask him quickly if there is anything that needs to be prioritized for that day.  He know realizes that he needs to express certain needs to me and opened up communication.  It has worked out well for us.

[Cozwaz]

I think Atlanta has give some excellent advise there.

I guess I am very lucky though, I don't have to fight for time really with my boss, I can always call her, email her or just knock on her door anytime and she give me some of here time.    What I tend to do is say "can we have 5 minutes at some point" and 9 times out of 10 she will say "lets have it now"

[Stewart]

Getting that first meeting can be difficult. I have an assistant who helps me and sometimes I can't even walk in the door and take my coat off before she's rapid firing questions and information at me. It's not a great way to start the day. I would take the suggestion for that FIRST meeting to follow your boss into his/her office and start the meeting off by telling them that this is not the way he/she can expect everyday to be but that you need to get some ground work and running orders in place. Then set up a time with them that you can meet each day, preferabbly 15 minutes or so after they get in the door.

[msmarieh]

I agree with the comments above, though confess, I am curious as to how she plans to monitor his calendar if it is on paper and with him. That issue needs to be addressed.

[jkavanagh]

I am in the fortunate position of having a boss who is happy to give his time. we work in an open plan office, and I sit closer to him than I sit next to my husband. So he can't escape if I want a word. Mind you my previous boss also sat next to me, and you couldn't pin him down at all!!

The most important thing is to watch for the right moment, and keep it short.

[crackerjack]

I couldn't think of anything worse than sitting really close to my manager.

They should give you time. You are as important as them. It is rude not to do that.