I’m a recruitment expert – these five tricks will make you your boss’s favorite person (WITHOUT being a suck- up)

There’s nothing worse than obsequious coworkers who laugh at the boss’s jokes and agree with every word.

But HR expert Natasha Kearslake argues that flattery is rarely the best way to earn their respect and boost your career.

You have to make yourself indispensable and take work off the manager’s hands so he or she can focus on strategic goals, she said.

And don’t forget the power of being sharp and showing that you are on their side. Kearslake highlighted that today, only 23 percent of employees say they strongly agree with company leadership, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Take on the things no one wants to do

Volunteering for tasks no one wants to do is a great way to make sure bosses appreciate you (and avoid the ax if there’s a layoff).

While some of this may involve small tasks, you will become busier and more indispensable as you increase your workload.

Kearslake said: ‘Free up your boss’s bandwidth by volunteering to do time-consuming work such as collecting data, handling mundane admin or organizing meeting logistics.

“Offer to handle the monthly sales report compiled from multiple data sources, a tedious task that your boss dreads.

‘Volunteer to coordinate the upcoming quarterly planning at an external location – booking locations, arranging travel, setting the agenda.

‘For a new product launch, you need to update marketing materials and website content.

‘When you’re moving forward in your own career, you have to take on more than is normally yours. This way you also gain experience for your own opportunities.’

She added: ‘Your boss will appreciate being able to focus on higher-level strategic priorities, rather than getting bogged down in details – which will in turn benefit the business.

Embracing grunt work is a subtle way to prove your indispensability.

‘It’s a great way to show that you are a team player, but be careful not to end up in a box as a data drone. If you can, volunteer for tedious tasks and then delegate them to a younger colleague.”

Stay ahead of what they need

Anticipating your boss’s needs and focusing on which parts of them their A job that causes them the most trouble can bring rewards, Kearslake said.

Who does your boss report to?

What issues are causing them a problem?

Kearslake said, “Give an update on that difficult story before they ask, and you’ll save them from that stress.

“If you know your boss leaves it to the last minute to prepare for the weekly marketing meetings, you can offer to prepare the presentation slides in advance.

‘Make their lives easier by integrating the latest campaign statistics and creative concepts. Your boss can then review and complete them without time pressure.

“Knowing that they’ve previously been blindsided by questions about one account during leadership meetings, you could proactively provide them with a quick status update on recent challenges, steps taken to prevent issues, and next actions. In this way they are prepared to address any concerns surrounding this important customer.’

Create a list of issues so they can be addressed in one meeting

Bosses often have a lot of trouble with coworkers who come to them with staffing issues, difficult customers, and budget issues.

Always approach with a possible solution (or several), rather than with a problem.

And instead of going to them with certain problems, you can often write them down and save them for one meeting.

Kearslake said, “The next time you find yourself in a challenging situation, take the time to come up with a thoughtful solution.

‘Imagine that your boss is struggling with personnel problems because one colleague takes long-term leave and another colleague resigns. There are also budget overruns for the new customer project and a difficult customer is in danger of leaving.

‘Instead of dumping these problems on your boss, think proactively. For staffing, suggest how hiring a temporary worker might help, or consider what redistributing the workload among the remaining team might look like.

‘For the budget you can look at cost-saving options or renegotiate the scope of the work. Present options, not solutions, and you will learn what is useful over time.

‘You can make a proposal to the difficult customer for a mediation meeting, or suggest finding out what you can offer him as an incentive to stay.’

By offering your boss some thoughtful options, you provide a way out of the problem, making your boss’s life easier amid the chaos.

“Even if your solution isn’t perfect, they’ll be relieved to have a starting point to address the problem.”

Find out what makes THEM look good

Almost everyone’s boss has their own boss.

And just like you, they’re desperately trying to impress their own line manager, Kearslake said.

“Assess what your boss’s goals are and how they align with the company’s goals. Then do everything you can to help them achieve their goals.

“If their goal is to reduce customer churn, you might suggest creating a loyalty program and improving support processes. If their priority is launching a new product line, volunteer for the project and work tirelessly to meet deadlines.

‘By directly contributing to your boss’s goals, you demonstrate your value. When appraisal time comes, your boss will be obligated to advocate for your raise, knowing that you helped him achieve success.”

Don’t always take full credit

Always make time to show that you appreciate your boss’s input on a project, rather than taking credit yourself.

It may be tempting to use that moment to bask in glory, but it could be a mistake, Kearslake said.

Kearslake said, “Being a leader can be a lonely job. Make yourself the employee who notices that he is doing his job well. Say thank you for their guidance when they helped you with a project, rather than just taking personal credit.”

By sharing the spotlight, you show that you can be kind and know how to spread recognition when it’s needed. It positions you as a loyal lieutenant worth investing in – and they’re more likely to take you under their wing.

‘Giving some appreciation (without sucking up!) builds goodwill and rapport. It positions you as a loyal lieutenant worth investing in – and they’re more likely to take you under their wing and confide in you.

“Notice when your boss successfully resolves a difficult customer dispute and thank him or her.”