This story is from July 20, 2016

This is what your boss wants

Does your boss like your work or not? Have you always been left wondering? Here are a few tips that can help solve this mystery
This is what your boss wants
A boss is perhaps the only person who knows your work in and out. And who wouldn't want some feedback on their work, right?
However, many a time, bosses fail to let you know what they actually feel about your work. Though organisations have formal platforms for feedback, sometimes, they aren't really honest. At times, the boss is overly blunt and critical, and sometimes, heshe is overly nice or evasive.
Both responses can lead to a dilemma on what he/she actually thinks about your work.
So, how can you find out?
Gaurav Khurana, chief marketing officer and head of online & affiliate partnerships, PAYBACK India, suggests, “You need to develop an easy-going relationship with your boss which helps in good communication and will help the boss give an honest feedback without worrying that it will be taken negatively. Another way to make your boss part with genuine feedback is to keep updating him/her on the work front. This helps as the boss then knows how best to guide you in real time.
“According to Satyendra Mallik, HR head, Intex Technologies, to ensure a proper feedback from a supervisor, the first and foremost thing that companies need to do is to ensure that there is complete transparency in the system."
Once the system is in place, it will be easier to provide feedback.Acknowledging upfront that one has a weakness can make it easier for a supervisor to open up about his opinions. If the subordinate trusts the scheme of things, hes/he won't beat around the bush indefinitely, but ask the supervisor directly . This will be beneficial for both,“ he states.

Many bosses fear they will anger employees or hurt their feelings if they are too open about what they think of their work. And this is what keeps them from providing honest feedback. Sameer Wadhawan, vice president human resources & services, India & South West Asia at Coca Cola India Inc, feels that this is because the bosses are not sure of the reaction to the feedback given. Their ability to handle the reaction of a subordinate after the feedback might restrain them from giving an honest feedback.
Talking about why certain bosses fail in giving frank feedback, Lalitha Indrakanti, director and centre leader at Cargill Business Services, Cargill India shares, “There can be many reasons like maturity of the recipient to receive and act on honest feedback; the boss not being interested in the growth and not thinking very highly of the potential of the individual; the boss being unwilling to deal with negative effects of honest feedback like attrition, budgetary constraints, lack of roadmap for growth in the organisation, etc."
Wadhawan suggests that bosses should be more factual.“They should start documenting the facts as it becomes easier to convey feedback using facts as the facts are undisputed. Show a cause-effect how doing or not doing something properly will impact the employee and the function. Once you show the cause and effect relationship, associates or employees are more open to accepting and understanding it,“ he says.
In the end, it also depends on the connection you have with your boss; if it is strong enough, you should not face any issues when it comes to feedback. But, if you are not getting enough feedback and you see lack of engagement, ask for it and make an attempt. And always remember, ask the right questions if you want the right answers!
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