Working With Your Supervisor

Conflict with your supervisor can mean trouble. It can mean feeling stressed at work, demoralized and discouraged about your career, or worried about losing your job. Here are some ideas for working well with your supervisor.

• Recognize that while your supervisor has the power to direct your work, you have the power to influence this relationship, for better or worse.

• Ask yourself what you want from your job. Is it money? Security? Advancement? To help Others? Listen carefully to the answers. They may give you some ideas to make your work more satisfying.
• Have a talk with your supervisor to clear up misunderstandings and clarify goals. List what you think her top three priorities are, then check it out. You may be surprised. Often, the person who gets promoted is the one who knows what's most important to the boss. Your most satisfying job is likely to be one in which you get what you need while your boss gets what she needs.
• Get some independent feedback on your situation. Talk it over with a friend or co-worker.
• Talk it over with your union steward/representative. If you feel you are being discriminated against or harassed, talk to your Department or County EOD representative.
• If problems in you work or personal life are overwhelming you, consider a visit to the EAP. In a private and confidential setting, you can talk to a licensed counselor and discuss strategies for lowering your stress. Your supervisor need not know about your visit to EAP. This benefit is free to all employees and consists of up to five counseling sessions per year.

For More Information Please Contact:

EAP
Phone: (408) 241-7772 (Call to schedule an appointment.)