How To Appreciate A Boss?

Today is National Boss's Day, a day to show you appreciate your manager. This is your opportunity to improve work relationships, which can make your work easier and support your career advancement. With work relationships, keep it professional. Avoid balloons and cakes. Boss's Day is not a birthday. Here are five ways to show your manager that you appreciate them in a professional manner:

1. Say “Thank you.”

Say "Thank you," and give a detailed example of appreciation. Reflect on your recent work, and identify particular things that your manager did that you appreciated. The recipient of your thanks will appreciate it.

Did your manager bring in another person to support your workload? Did they recognize your good work in front of people that allowed you to be considered for another opportunity? Did they give you flexibility with your schedule so you could work from home while your child was recovering from an operation?

Show that you notice their good deeds. When people see that you notice, they will be more inclined to continue exhibiting supportive behavior.

2. Share a handwritten note.

Briefly thank your manager in writing. Handwritten notes are rare nowadays. When you receive a handwritten note, it is memorable and helps you leave your mark.

3. Compliment your manager in a group setting.

When you are in a meeting, mention something nice about your manager. Say thanks for something they did for you, or congratulate your boss on a recent award or accomplishment. Put your manager in a good light such that other people will see their leadership and will want to work with them, as well.

4. Write a LinkedIn recommendation for your boss.

Let your manager's network know the good work that they are doing. Write a paragraph that highlights the person's skills as a manager and organizational leader that can be posted on your manager's LinkedIn page. People at work and outside of work should know the good things they are doing. When it comes time to enhance your LinkedIn profile, they will be more willing to provide you a recommendation.

5. Reach out to their boss.

Not every "thank you" has to be expressed directly to the recipient. Generally, you do not want to go above your manager's head. That is, you don't want to report a problem to your manager's manager. But when it comes to praise, let their boss know. When their boss knows about good work, it can help the person rise. And when your manager rises, you have the opportunity to rise, as well.

Send your manager's boss a brief e-mail mentioning the leadership your boss exemplified on a project. Keep your note general. Executives do not need to know details. They have less time to read e-mails, and you do not want to share something that your manager (in hindsight) should have brought to their manager's attention. Keep it positive and concise. And in communicating with your manager's boss, it gives you exposure.

It takes little time and effort to show appreciation for your boss. Be intentional about giving thanks to your manager, and try to show appreciation on more occasions than just today. Make your boss feel special, and enhance your working relationship to position yourself for success in your current and future roles.