How to Stay on your Boss’s Good Side

Getting and staying on your boss’s good side doesn’t mean you’re a “brown-noser.” In fact, being on your boss’s good side means you are more likely to perform better and be more productive at work, according to a new study in the Journal of Business Ethics.

Here are some ways you can become an office superstar:

1. Go above and beyond – Don’t just do your job, go the extra mile. Don’t be afraid to work on things that may seem outside of your job description. This can be a learning opportunity for you and show your boss that you are a team player and have initiative.
2. Be punctual – Don’t be the last person to roll into work. Pressing the snooze button five times in a row is tempting but it won’t get you on your boss’s good side. Think of work like your credit score. If you are punctual with paying your bills, you’ll get the reputation of being a responsible customer. Therefore, auto and home insurance companies will trust you and give you lower premiums. If you are punctual at work, you’ll get the reputation of being a responsible employee. This won’t get you a lower premium but might get you a higher salary. Who can argue with that?
3. Ask for feedback – Ask your boss for constructive criticism or suggestions on how you can do your job even better. Are there rumblings about layoffs? Be direct and ask your boss, “How can I avoid being one of those numbers?” This shows that you are a go-getter and you are serious about your job.
4. Stay organized – Keep your desk clean, your files organized, and create computer folders so you can access work quickly. You will quickly be known as an employee who stays on top of things.
5. Compliment when appropriate – Nobody likes a “suck-up,” but a carefully crafted compliment can help you move up in rank. Compliment your boss in front of his boss. Mention how well he handled a situation or found a solution to a problem. Your boss will appreciate the recognition. Of course, always make sure you compliment in a professional manner.
6. Know your boss’s communication style – Every boss communicates differently. Some sit back and listen while others fire off questions. Some are casual and relaxed and others are all business. Part of your job is to figure out your boss’s style and relate to him or her accordingly.
7. Be detail-oriented – Proofread your emails, be on time for meetings, respond promptly to calls or emails from your boss and always be prepared. Small details might seem unimportant, but they add up.
8. Be positive – Simply having a positive, go-getter attitude will make you a magnet around the office. Be helpful to fellow coworkers. Try to offer solutions instead of whine about problems. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to smile. It might seem cheesy but simply smiling around the office will boost your reputation of being a positive employee.

Stay in the know – Check your credit score annually. Make sure there aren’t any mistakes on your report, and if there are, contact the reporting agency and fix them. Mistakes could potentially hurt your credit, so it’s important to stay up to date. Some websites offer free copies of your report.

1. 2.       Pay your bills early – Being timely when payments are due is a sure-fire way to boost your credit score. However, simply paying bills on their due date won’t help boost your credit. Paying early can really give you some credit brownie points. Sometimes you can even have the option of setting up automatic bill pay. This means that each month your bill is automatically drafted out of your bank account. This option is a great way to not miss a payment.
2. 3.       Keep your card balances low – About one-third of your credit score is based on the amounts you owe. If you keep your credit cards maxed out, then it pulls down your score. As a general rule, keep your purchases to less than 25% of your credit limit at any time. If you have multiple credit cards, it’s a good idea to pay down your highest balance first.
3. 4.       Limit the number of credit cards you open – This doesn’t just mean your typical Visa or MasterCard. It also includes retail credit cards. Some stores offer great incentives for you to open a credit card. But opening too many cards at once can hurt your score. The idea is to build your credit slowly and demonstrate a steady, strong foundation to lenders. Opening a slew of credit cards within a short period of time can look like an unstable house of cards.
4. 5.       Protect your credit – Once you work your way up to a better credit score, protect it. Continue to follow healthy credit practices, and don’t let yourself slip into old habits.