Sooner or later you're going to have to deliver bad news to your boss. It could be something simple like not being able to finish a task in time, or it could be huge like a cost overrun on a fixed price contract. Maybe it's not even your fault. If it's a problem with another person, be sure to review the sections on dealing with difficult people and situations. A good boss is going to expect that things don't always go smoothly and that people make mistakes. Part of being a good manager is helping your staff avoid problems, but addressing problems when they do occur. Problems and challenges are inevitable, so get good at dealing with them:
- The sooner, the better - Whenever there's a problem, a lot of people (myself included) will first try to solve the problem or hope that it will go away. This is ok for trivial issues or if there is a good chance that you can resolve the issue without your boss's involvement. But problems tend to get worse over time and the earlier you can address them the better. When I was a manager there were many times when I wished I had heard of an issue long before it became a major problem. Especially for things like missed deadlines; there are more opportunities to resolve them the sooner they are identified. In general, no problem ever gets solved by being ignored.
- Bring your boss solutions, not problems - Even if you can't solve the problem on your own, it's best to bring your boss some potential solutions. Before going to your boss, think hard about what it will take to resolve the issue. Don't dump the problem in your boss's lap and expect him to find a solution. A good way to start is to say "I've got this problem and I need your help in finding a solution. Here's the issue... I think a good way to address it is to do this... I'll need help with... What do you think?"
- Own the problem and the solution - If it is your fault, make sure you take ownership of the problem right up front. Tell her what you've learned or what changes you'll make so that the problem won't occur again. Make sure you take responsibility for seeing the issue through to its resolution.
I know it's counter-intuitive, but hiding problems from your boss is always a bad idea. Things go wrong and that's part of business. Work with your boss to overcome the bad stuff.
