THE BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR STOMACH are doing flip-flops. Your new boss arrives next week, and you’re gripped with anxiety. Will your new supervisor like you and your work? Is your job in jeopardy?

The uncertainty of change can create enormous stress. The following strategies will help you not only cope with the change, but thrive in your new work situation.

“You need to recognize that the boss-employee relationship is not like the parent-child relationship because the burden of managing the relationship doesn’t fall entirely on the boss,” says Patti Hathaway, author of Managing Upward: Creating Working Partnerships.

As the employee, this gives you the opportunity to co-create a relationship with your new boss, from the first day.

Mutual Concerns
Remember, your boss also is adjusting to change. He or she has to learn a new job and meet and supervise new employees. With this in mind, take a moment away from your fears and ask yourself, “How can I help my boss to adjust?” This will transform your attitude from fearful thoughts into a “How can I serve?” frame of mind.

“You’ll no longer feel like a victim of change,” says Hathaway. “Instead, you’ll be a catalyst to creating an atmosphere of teamwork between you and your new boss.”

Steps to Take
To adjust to your new boss, you need to understand how to relate to a new personality, so pay attention to how your new supervisor behaves in different situations.

“Understanding his or her personality will help you to not take things personally,” says Hathaway. “Some bosses are relationship-oriented, while others are task-oriented. Some prefer open communication, while others are more private.”

To discover what makes your boss tick, Hathaway suggests you find out the answers to these questions: What are the boss’s pet peeves? How do you know he or she is angry? Or satisfied? In presenting your ideas to your boss, is he or she interested in all the details or just the bottom line? Observe people who seem to get along with him or her. What do they do that makes them so successful?

Your next step is to help your boss understand you by explaining your needs. You may have personal problems that affect your work. For example, a physical ailment may require you to visit your doctor frequently.

Being open about your needs and problems helps your boss understand you. To do so, Hathaway suggests you follow these three steps:

• Be proactive and ask for a meeting with the new boss. Come prepared with a quick summary of your accomplishments during the past 6 to 12 months, as well as some ideas for how to improve your department.
• Ask your new boss how he or she prefers to communicate — via e-mail, in-person, by voice mail, etc.? Share with him or her how you best communicate and come to an understanding of how the two of you can work best together.

  “Communication is the key to adjusting to your new boss,” says Hathaway. “Establish open lines of communication with him or her as soon as possible.”

• Be trustworthy. Trust is an essential part of your new relationship. Follow through on what you say you’ll do. Don’t promise more than you can deliver. Be consistent in your behavior and your work. If you have a problem, tell your boss about it right away.

  “Broken trust is difficult to repair, so make an extra effort to be honest with your new boss from the first day,” says Hathaway.

Harriet Meyerson spoke with Patti Hathaway, author of Managing Upward: Strategies for Succeeding With Your Boss, Crisp Publications, 1992, $13.95. For more information, visit her Web site, at www.thechangeagent.com.

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