Purpose Wellbeing

Dealing with a New Boss at Work

Getting a new supervisor at work can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. The tips in this challenge can help prepare you for how to best navigate this change.

The Challenge

When you get a new manager, it can raise a lot of questions: what does this mean for your job security? For your career growth? How is he or she going to change your day-to-day work environment? What if you don’t like them? Feeling anxious about such a big change is normal, but does not have to be the end of the world! Read through this challenge for tips on how to deal with a major leadership change at work.

It can be jarring when there’s turnover at work, especially when it’s your day-to-day supervisor. You invested time and energy into developing a good relationship with your previous manager, and your new boss may operate completely differently. But this doesn’t have to be as scary as it initially seems! Read through these tips on how to prepare yourself to build a positive relationship with your new boss.

Be prepared to sell yourself.
Your new manager will likely come in and ask to have an initial meeting with everyone to learn as much as they can about each of you and the team in general. Don’t make the mistake of treating this as an informal meeting where you are simply introducing yourself and bringing your new boss up to speed; in reality, this is their way of giving you a job interview. Put some thought into this meeting ahead of time and be prepared to highlight the work you’ve been doing and how it will continue to be an asset to the team. Consider what the person stepping into this role needs to know to excel in their job, and how you can help them be an effective leader.

Ask what their expectations are.
You need to know what your new boss expects of you. For example, how much time do they expect you to devote to particular tasks? Are they perfectionists and expect a perfectly polished product the first time around, or do they anticipate a more collaborative approach? Your new boss will appreciate your interest in the level of work they would like to see from you, and knowing this at the beginning of the relationship should set a positive tone.

Be flexible.
Realistically, you are going to have to satisfy your new boss and meet his or her expectations, whether they align with your previous goals. This means you might have to change your work or communication style to what he or she prefers. If you find yourself having trouble communicating with him or her, take some time to listen and observe how they communicate with other team members. You may be able to pick up on some cues that can help you adapt to his or her style.

Have patience.
Change takes time, and there may be bumps as your new manager settles into their role. Be patient with them (and yourself), and focus on what you can control. Don’t get discouraged if you feel like you haven’t developed as good of a relationship with them as you would like; make an action plan to help build the relationship, and follow it.