There is no doubt that having a boss who thinks highly of you will help you in your career. Not only will a boss who is your ally help to shield you from layoffs if the time comes, he or she can also help you advance within your career. Therefore, if you hope to go places with your career, it is in your best interest to take steps to foster a good relationship with your boss. Whether you started off on the wrong foot with your boss or you have always had good relationship, following these tips will help you improve upon your relationship while also keeping it going strong.

Tip #1: Remain Humble

Nothing is worse than an employee who acts as if the whole company should revolve around him. If you hope to win the admiration and respect of your boss, always keep in mind that it is not all about you. Keep in mind that your boss is not personally responsible for helping you to further your career. Rather, make an effort to learn more about what you can do to improve your skills and take steps toward advancing company goals and your boss will be sure to take notice.

Tip #2: Practice Honesty

It is only natural to make mistakes now and again. If you do make a mistake, admit to your error and work toward correcting it. Rather than allowing yourself to get caught and then making up lies and excuses, be forthright and ask your boss for help with rectifying it. Not only will your honesty be admirable, you will also maintain your credibility.

Tip #3: Respect Your Boss’s Time

While there is no doubt that you are juggling a lot of things at work and that your time is valuable, keep in mind that your boss is likely handling even more tasks. Therefore, when you spend time with your boss, make sure you make the most productive use of the time possible. Coming prepared with a list of things to discuss will be viewed favorably by your boss, as will moving forward to the next topic of discussion rather than lingering on one topic for too long. If your boss knows you will be in and out of his or her office quickly, he or she will be more willing to meet with you in the future.

Tip #4: Monitor Your on Progress

Bosses love employees who are self-sufficient and do not require a whole lot of handholding. Rather than running to your boss every time you face making a decision, have the confidence to make the decisions on your own. The only time you should ask your boss to help with making a decision is if you have already explore all of the options and you are truly stumped. Even then, you should come prepared with a suggested course of action to take.

Tip #5: Be Accommodating

Whenever possible, you should make an effort to take on whatever tasks your boss asks you to do. After demonstrating your abilities with smaller tasks, your boss will likely start to trust you with larger, more meaningful tasks. Furthermore, if you see something that needs to be done, don’t wait to be asked to take care of it. Take the initiative and get the job done. Your efforts will certainly be noticed and appreciated, which will work to your benefit when it comes time for your boss to make difficult decisions affecting your career.