Keep your boss informed

[susan silva]

How often do you sit down with your boss in an one on one and inform him on your projects or what is going on in the job/office?  In your situation is this a helpful scenario or there other avenues of communication that you use?

[Katie G]

In my perfect world this would happen first thing every morning, but that's not always possible.  Often I find myself getting "bumped".  I did mention to my boss that I should be the FIRST person to know something -- not the LAST, as is often the case.  We're working to make that ten minute meeting in the morning a priority.  As of last week, it happened three out of five days. 

It's a work in progress.

[gee4]

My boss and I sit opposite each other (for now), so it's a no-brainer.

I discuss things as and when they arise, be it morning or afternoon, or just whenever we both have time, or if he's got a window in between meetings.

Previous bosses I have had, even in other companies, have been hard to tie down.  Either they don't  think it's important or I am not closeby to see if they are free.  Someone usually managed to 'pop' into their office before I got there so I was left hovering or going back to my desk and guessing how long they would be.

[Jo Fergie]

I'd love to be able to have 5 minutes of my bosses time. He's in at 7am (1 hour before me) and already right into the thick of things by the time I come in. My time with him is caught as he walks past my desk on his way to the coffee machine. Previously I worked for a compnay and a boss that structured 20 minutes each morning, over a coffee, to catch up on where things where at. I also had access to his inbox which helped keept a track of things too. I guess if I have access to my new bosses emails then the catch up everyday wouldn't be so critical. I'm always reading numerous chain emails, which I get eventually copied in to, to try and figure out what is going on or what I'm supposed to be actioning. He travels alot so his habit is to email rather than talk. However, emailing from your office when I'm only sitting outside it is a little frustrating sometimes. I used to work for someone who sat right next to me though and I never got a minutes piece. Swings and roundabouts I guess.

[peaches2160]

I found weekly meetings to review action items was wonderful with my old boss.  It kept us working as a team.  However, new boss, new management style.  It helps to be a business partner when you are informed.  I have access to bosses e-mail so I stay on top of things that way.  Funny, she will tell me to reply to something, then turns around and replies to it and does not copy me.  I have found myself developing the habit of checking the sent mail before i send.  Then I can say "as referenced in xxx's previous message to you.........

Gives the impression we are in sync.

[FaeryBoozeBooks]

Once a week at a regular scheduled time.

[raindance]

I, too, would love to have regular meetings with my manager.  My work is fairly self-directed and our admin supports both my manager and me.  I have set up a series of regular meetings with her, with the idea being that Bossie will join us accordingly to her schedule and need to do so.

That said,  it is reasonably easy for me to schedule time to discuss matters when I need to.

[peaches2160]

Being fairly virtual with both of my bosses, I schedule time when they are in or schedule a call if discussion is needed on a matter when they are traveling.

I found the weekly meetings face to face were helpful to stay in sync.  However, I monitor email boxes and we do a good job communicating via email and phone.