Arneson Steve - What your boss really wants from you : 15 insights to improve your relationship

More Praise for What Your Boss Really Wants from You

This book is a must-read for both employees and bossesfilled with practical exercises that will make you, your boss, and your company more successful.

Helmuth Ludwig, CEO, Siemens Industry Sector

Steve Arneson understands that while the boss is the teams quarterback, it is teamworkbuilt on high-caliber interpersonal relationshipsthat leads to business excellence.

Steve Swad, CEO, Rosetta Stone

Steve Arneson reveals a window into your managers true motivesjust what you need to build a successful partnership with your boss.

Marc Effron, author of One Page Talent Management and President, The Talent Strategy Group

In this fascinating book, Steve Arneson offers a practical road map for understanding and adapting to your bosss motives and style. If you want to improve your relationship with the boss, read this book.

Bridgette Weitzel, Chief Talent Officer, BAE Systems

Getting along with your boss is the key to a long, successful, and fulfilling career. In this smart book, Steve Arneson shares his secrets for improving your most critical work relationship.

Bill Allen, Chief Human Resources Officer, Macys, Inc.

This book is an invaluable resource for employees and a smart read for all managers who want to be more open about their style, motives, and values.

Linda Simon, Senior Vice President, Leadership and Organization Development, DIRECTV

Managing the relationship with your boss is indispensable for career success; in clear, direct, and punchy prose, Steve Arneson provides explicit and essential advice.

Robert Hogan, PhD, President, Hogan Assessment Systems

Steve Arneson takes years of observation and distills it into a simple guide on how to improve your most important work relationship.

Fred Knowles, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Under Armour

Steve Arneson delivers an insightful and practical playbook about the ever-challenging employee-boss relationship with this clever follow-up to Bootstrap Leadership.

David DeFilippo, Chief Learning Officer, BNY Mellon

Steve Arneson has captured the insights and practical advice needed to build and sustain a powerful relationship with your boss.

Scott E. Nelson, CEO, MDA Leadership Consulting

Steve Arneson asks all the right questions to help us understand the boss and motivates us to adapt and take responsibility for the relationship.

Jane Sommers-Kelly, Managing Director, Duke Corporate Education

Steve Arnesons book is a must-read for bosses and subordinates who are interested in building more effective professional relationships with each other.

Boris Groysberg, Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

This book offers a fresh approach to navigating the relationship with your boss. The process and insight Steve Arneson shares can help you get this critical relationship right.

Jeff Smith, Global Head of Human Resources, BlackRock

Weve all had at least one challenging boss in our careers, and this book shows you practical ways to take ownership of that relationship to realize your full potential.

Doug Rose, Chief Human Resources Officer, Discover Financial

Steve Arneson once again delivers with provocative questions and insights. He provides practical tips for taking accountability and maximizing your most important professional relationship.

Tim Tobin, Vice President, Global Learning and Leadership Development, Marriott International

This book is for all those who have ever gotten a knot in their stomach when they get an email or voice mail from their boss. Steve Arneson gives you an effective strategy for the relationship so youll never feel that anxiety again.

Jim Norton, Head of Global Media Sales, AOL

WHAT YOUR
BOSS
REALLY WANTS
FROM YOU

Also by Steve Arneson

Bootstrap Leadership

15 Insights to Improve
Your Relationship

STEVE ARNESON

What Your Boss Really Wants from You

Copyright 2014 by Steve Arneson
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

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First Edition
Paperback print edition ISBN 978-1-62656-077-2
PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-62656-078-9
IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-62656-079-6

2014-1

Cover Design: Irene Morris Design. Text Designer: Detta Penna. Copyeditor:
Kathleen Rake, Click Media Works. Indexer: Kirsten Kite.

Single key image: Vincent Giordano | Dreamstime.com

Ring of keys image: Bagwold | Dreamstime.com

To all of my best bosses
Thank you for your integrity and honesty

As an executive coach, Ive worked with hundreds of people in all types of organizations, guiding them through a professional development journey. Its a fascinating process, one that has the potential to change their work lives. Each person has their own story, of coursea unique narrative that includes their skills, experience, strengths, weaknesses, and relationships. Yet while every engagement is different, these people all have one thing in common: their boss always plays a central role in the story. Thats why my first coaching question is,