Never Outshine “The Boss”
After almost twenty years in service, a top rank official in-charge of Sales and Marketing has decided to go on retirement. The legacy he left behind will always be remembered by the people. The board of directors decided to hire a replacement from outside the company thinking that a new person will be able to bring new and additional business to the company.
The company continued its favorable performance through its sales team headed by the Assistant Vice-President for Sales and Operations. Because of the commitment and desire of the AVP to maintain the position of the company in the industry, ideas were suggested and discussed with the new Sales and Marketing Head. The aggressiveness of the AVP has eventually affected the working relationship with the “boss”.
Lesson learned: “Never outshine the “boss” because it can be your worst mistake. Instead, apply the following to your advantage: If you are more intelligent than “the boss”, show the opposite. Make him more intelligent than you. If your ideas are more creative than “the boss”, laud him in public as if it was his. Make it clear that your advice is just a representation of his idea.
The following reminder can also help: Firstly, You can inadvertently outshine “the boss” simply by being yourself. There are “bosses” who are more insecure than others they will be outshined gracefully by your charm. Secondly, do not think that because “the boss” likes you, you can do anything you want. Favoritism can detrimental to your job!
