Management Tip of the Day: Stop Wasting Your Boss's Time

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile AUGUST 17, 2012 Stop Wasting Your Boss's Time It's easy to complain about a manager who wastes time. It's much harder to see how you might misuse that manager's time. Here are three ways to minimize the impact you have on your supervisor's tight schedule: Self-delegate. Avoid requesting her intervention too often. If you or one of your direct reports can accomplish the task without your boss's help, do it. Present solutions, not problems. Don't bring problems to your boss to solve. Instead, bring proposed solutions, and seek his feedback. Accommodate her working style. For example, if she prefers to receive information in writing rather than in person, honor those preferences even if it's not your style. Today's Management Tip was adapted from the Harvard ManageMentor Online Module: Time Management. Buy the course to apply tools and techniques for managing your time » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Build, Borrow, or Buy: Solving the Growth Dilemma HBR Press Book How should you grow your organization? It's one of the most challenging questions an executive team faces — and the wrong answer can break your firm. So where do you start? By asking the right questions, argue INSEAD's Laurence Capron and coauthor Will Mitchell, of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Drawing on decades of research and teaching, Capron and Mitchell find that a firm's aptitude for determining the best resource pathways for growth has a defining impact on its success. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Let Employees Tell Their Own Stories about Change Change Your Culture a Few Behaviors at a Time Apply the Right Kind of Pressure to Innovators Create Raving Fans for Your Idea Demonstrate Your Credibility as a Leader Explore a New Career with an Informational Interview Reveal Your Intentions to Build Trust Motivate Your Problem Employee Introverts Can Still Innovate Give Your Organization a Marketing Makeover All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing HBR's Morning Advantage The Harvard Business Review Morning Advantage delivers the latest business ideas from beyond HBR.org directly to your inbox every morning — and it is free! Sign up today >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)