Special to MSN – CareerBuilder article .pdf – Rachel Farrell

What bosses really want

Most employees want nothing more than to impress their boss. But it’s hard to do that when you don’t know exactly what bosses want.

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“It is so much more difficult to manage than supervise. As the CEO, I never want to be told by my direct reports that I have something when I do not. I want to be frankly told when we collectively have a problem. However, I want them to be able to offer at least two to three viable solutions. I want my direct reports to ideally function like true peers. In this mode, I want them to have healthy arguments about potential solutions to problems and vision for what the best direction could be for the organization. I want a direct report to handle his or her own staff with little input from me. I want a direct report to not be afraid to come in my office with an idea that is easily perceived as something that will advance the mission of the organization without a self-serving or obfuscated agenda. Finally, I want a direct report who is loyal to me and to the organization. A person that takes the job and the organization personally. A person that does in fact bring their job home with them and balances the welfare of the organization with their own welfare. I want direct reports eager for new assignments. I never want a direct report with a nanosecond of cynicism. A direct report who complains or is negative or sarcastic about a peer should not complain to me but rather attempt to resolve it with their peer. A great direct report should feel comfortable looking at me almost as their peer. However, the “almost” is there because the direct report should always be developing ways to help me improve myself and obviously the organization.” — Robert Stack, president and CEO of Community Options, which provides support services to disabled people

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