The relationship you have with your boss is very important on both a professional and a personal level.
It can have a significant influence on your day-to-day job satisfaction as well as your long-term career success.
The relationship is also important to your boss who is counting on you, and your colleagues, to satisfy customers, meet deadlines and achieve objectives.
But keeping this relationship healthy and productive is not about 'managing' your boss: it's about understanding them, and you, and then choosing to behave in a way that gets the best results for you, your boss and the organization.
Only by understanding your mutual needs, styles, expectations, strengths and weaknesses can you develop a relationship that works for both of you.
What we say or do influences the other person; it's the same in any relationship.
You can't change your boss but you can control your own behaviour.
It's important, therefore, to understand what you do that either helps or hinders the relationship.
Here are some actions you can take to make the relationship work.
Take responsibility for your own career and personal development Ask for feedback throughout the year - don't just wait for performance reviews.
Learn how to evaluate your own performance - what are you doing well; what do you need to improve on.
Take responsibility for performance reviews Be aware that not all bosses are good at holding review meetings so help by being as positive as you can be, even if you don't like some of the criticism you may receive.
Discuss mutual expectations openly Find out what your boss's expectations are and share your own.
Tell your boss what development and support you need.
Don't assume they'll automatically know.