What Your Boss Really Wants from You: 15 Insights to Improve Your Relationship

Every group that executive coach Steve Arneson speaks to have the same question: what does my boss want? Even a good boss can be hard to read, but many people have difficult bosses. Many bosses aren’t clear about their expectations, act in seemingly inexplicable ways, and suggest motives that appear to have nothing to do with helping you achieve your career goals. Arneson says the hard truth is that any efforts to improve, fix, or convert your boss won’t work. The secret is to figure out what makes her tick and change your own approach to working with her.

The book is divided into three sections and built around fifteen questions - ten to ask about your boss and five to ask about yourself. It begins by showing you how you can study your boss to gain an understanding of what drives his behavior - work style, leadership brand, and motives. Once you understand this, you can consider how your boss sees you. Studying your boss is important, but you also have to look at yourself from her perspective. Finally, you need to take responsibility for the relationship. In this section, you’ll find practical suggestions for using what you’ve learned to change your interactions with your boss and tips for getting the relationship back on track. Arneson includes vivid real-world examples to show how he and his clients have put his advice into practice to gain more meaningful, productive, and enjoyable work lives.