How can I earn trust from my manager?

What's the short-cut to winning your manager's trust? Ah! Easier said than done! In these given times, there are no short-cuts to earn trust from your manager!! However, you can learn what needs to be done in order to earn trust, if you are new to this game, or have considered "Hard work is the only way to the top". Let's look at what's important for your manager and understand why.

Learn the expectations from your role

While your job description may represent everything that is required for the specific role from a company's point of view, your manager will only know what is required of you in the particular team. Sometimes, it may be to solve a problem technically, or develop processes in an agile team, or manage a team of freshers (what's more difficult?).

Understand the top pain-points for your manager

Though we said there are no short-cuts, it is an easier way to make them dependable on you. Observe and understand what has been causing your manager trouble. Maybe, your team is getting too many customer tickets, or are facing rollbacks for every deployment, thus pushing the deadlines. Maybe your manager doesn't have enough time to figure out a solution for this but keep getting frustrated whenever it happens.

Figure out a way to solve it, dive deep, find the root cause, and the right solution. Proposing the solution doesn't solve a problem, but getting it done does, and that's what all managers expect from their reporters. Fix the issues, but not by comprising your own priorities. Do it if you have spare time alone, or are ready to work extra time for the same. However, if you get it done, remember, your managers trust on you would easily shoot high.

Know what metrics define your success

If you are a product manager, the ROI of the product or the user-engagement of your product may be the basic metric that defines your success, or may get you to the next level in the growth ladder. Likewise, there are different metrics for different job types.

In the case of startups there may not be well-defined process for a hike or promotion, but may depend on other team member's opinions. However, in MNCs, there are clear boundaries that define your success. Whatever it may be, talk to your manager well in advance to understand your growth-path and start moving in that direction from Day 1, if you are seeking faster growths comparatively.

Maintain consistent behavior in the absence of your Manager

If you are an IC or a fresher typically, it may be easier for you to believe your manager only knows what you showcase in their presence. However, people in management are well-connected and your biased behavior might not survive for long.

They may trust you for a promotion as an IC to ensure their work doesn't get affected, but would never choose you as a leader. To be franker, Industry is evolving at a rate where you never know who might climb the ladder quicker to become your new manager. Hence, be careful, get clarity on how you respond to everything, and make it consistent with all your coworkers. If you are determined to make history, that would definitely matter!!

Display leadership qualities in the team

You needn't transform yourself completely to become someone who you are not. All that matters is to be humane. Respect all your coworkers irrespective of their seniority. Be honest. Volunteer if help is necessary, and guide your juniors and help them get acquainted with the system.

This is highly appreciated by managers, especially because they can count on you in their absence or during their vacations. Also, you would have a higher likeliness to go up the ladder quicker or transition to a management role.

Be wholly committed

Do you remember your school days when people were praised for their out-of-box thinking or presentation? It was not just meant for school, but for your whole life. If you are given a job, your intention shouldn't just be to get it done, but see what more special ingredient of yours you can add to make it even spicier!! That would represent how involved or committed to your work.

Practice what you preach

Words and actions need to go hand-in-hand for trust. Not just with a manager-employee relationship, but any relationship for that matter. If you say you have high ownership principle, or that you learn quicker than everyone else, make sure you maintain it. Especially if you quote a deadline, make sure you don't give excuses often.

Keep doing all this consistently and believe your manager trusts you. Ultimately, that day is not far away.