How do you get your manager to notice you?

How do you get your manager to notice you? This is a question that I receive on occasion, usually from someone who’s thinking about pursuing a promotion.

If you’re interested in deepening your work relationship with your manager, consider starting from a place of empathy. Think about what you currently know about your manager - their habits, their personality, their routine - and gently begin the process of putting yourself in their shoes.

As an example: it might be that your manager is currently navigating what it is to actually be a manager. This was likely a job that they wanted for a long time. When they received their promotion, they experienced the wide-eyed excitement we all experience when we finally achieve our dreams.

But as they began performing the many duties of management, they realized just how different and, often, uncomfortable the new demands are compared with their previous responsibilities.

They may be tasked with carrying out decisions that aren't aligned with what they actually want to do - such as firing someone, shifting gears on a project/process, or being firm with a team member.

They may also be experiencing imposter syndrome - wondering if they measure up or if they’ll ever become the leader they always wanted to be.

If you can acknowledge this - and if you can somehow show your manager that you genuinely respect the complexity and depth of their position - you will make tremendous leaps in getting them to notice you.

As a result:

- Your relationship will become stronger.

- Your manager will start taking steps to mentor you and provide moments of insight into their thinking.

- Everything you build from there will exist on a foundation of trust.

All of this helps you become a richer employee - and it will certainly set you up for the future.

Managers, do you agree? Anything that you’d like to add to the conversation?

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