Quiz: How's Your Relationship with Your Boss?

The years I spent as an Executive Assistant were some of the most rewarding (and most challenging) years of my career. I had a very strict and conservative boss. He was type A personality, strong willed and sometimes completely intimidating. I had to work hard to create a relationship that worked for both of us - one that was built on mutual respect, trust and loyalty. It wasn't always easy, but I recognized the importance of that relationship. It wasn't just a part of the job, it was the job. Without a strong relationship, there was no point in my being there.

No matter what position you hold, the relationship you have with your boss is a critical piece of your success. It also plays a huge role in your job satisfaction. Take a few minutes to consider your relationship with your boss by taking this quiz.

Instructions

Review the following statements and pick the answer that describes you best. You may not find an answer that matches your feelings exactly, so just choose the one that's closest.

1. You suddenly realize that you've made a huge mistake that will impact your boss's upcoming meeting (in thirty minutes). Since it's so late, you're pretty sure there's nothing you can do. You:

a) Have a panic attack and start planning your job search strategy.

b) Sit tight and hope for the best.

c) Approach your boss and tell her what happened, apologize and ask if there is anything you can do to resolve the situation.

d) Forget about it! Your boss is a quick thinker. Why worry at this point?

2. When your boss hears about this mistake you've made, she:

a) Yells and tells you to find a way to fix it.

b) Shakes her head, as if she should have known you'd mess it up.

c) Asks what happened and assists you in finding strategies to avoid it from happening again in the future.

d) Gets mad but agrees to let you buy her a cocktail later to apologize.

3. You arrive at the office early one morning to find your boss already hard at work. She appears to be completely stressed out. You:

a) Hide in your office and hope it's nothing you did.

b) Ask your co-workers if they know what's going on.

c) Approach your boss and offer your assistance.

d) Continue doing your thing. If she needs you, she knows where to find you.

4. Your boss has been putting off working on a large project for several weeks, even though you've been consistently reminding her. On the day before it's due, she asks you to stay late to help her finish it. You:

a) Make up an excuse and get out of there quickly.

b) Agree but complain to all of your co-workers about her procrastination.

c) Agree and offer to pick up dinner for you both. You know that she doesn't want to stay late any more than you do, so why not make the best of it?

d) Pull out your favorite comeback, "Lack of preparation on your part doesn't make an emergency on my part." You warned her this would happen.

5. You're having a difficult time with a task your boss assigned to you. You're feeling unclear about the instructions so you:

a) Scrounge around the internet looking for some clue of what to do.

b) Ask your co-workers if they know anything about it and drop a few subtle hints to your boss hoping she'll explain it more.

c) Sit down with your boss and ask if she can review the task details again. You make notes and ask questions during the conversation to prevent further confusion.

d) Put it aside. If she really needs it, she'll go over it again in the future.

Count the number of A's, B's, C's and D's you have.

If A's appeared most on your list:

Um. How do I put this gently? Are you afraid of your boss? It certainly appears that way. And maybe you're afraid for good reason. Some bosses are intimidating and downright hard to work with. I've worked with a few difficult bosses myself so I feel for you. Your relationship is clearly strained. You don't communicate well at all - and that likely goes both directions. Don't assume it's your fault. This is a partnership so you guys are both in it together. Perhaps you need to build your confidence and have a heart-to-heart with your boss. Obviously, this isn't working well. You aren't going to be of much use if you're constantly worried about dealing with your boss or making her angry. You guys need to get on a better level fast. Start by opening the lines of communication and ask her to do the same. Work on building your confidence, and overcoming the intimidation as well. You deserve to feel comfortable at work.

If B's appeared most on your list:

You probably already know this but your relationship with your boss isn't great. You seem to lack trust in one another. You would rather talk to your co-workers than talk to your boss. Perhaps you just don't understand each other. And there definitely seems to be a lack of respect between the two of you. You don't have to be best buds, but there does need to be an established level of professionalism between the two of you. It might be helpful to evaluate your feelings and figure out what you want out of this relationship, because right now, you're not getting anywhere. If you want to make this situation work, you'll need to approach your boss and make some changes. If you can't find a common ground, it may be time to find a new job. If you stay where you are, be careful about talking to your co-workers about your boss behind her back. That really won't go over well when she finds out (which she definitely will).

If C's appeared most on your list:

Congratulations! It seems you have a great working relationship with your boss. You maintain a high level of professionalism and you communicate openly. Your honest interaction helps build trust and respect between the two of you. You aren't afraid to approach her with questions or mistakes, and she reacts in a professional, helpful manner. Together, you are a great team. You obviously care about seeing your boss succeed, and it's likely that she wants the same for you. That kind of support system is incredibly important in business. Take care of this relationship.

If D's appeared most on your list:

Now is a good time to take a step back and evaluate the professionalism of the relationship you have with your boss. Perhaps you consider yourselves friends. While that may feel fine, you're on dangerous ground. You tend to push back on your boss frequently - something that would be perfectly fine in a friendship. But in a manager/employee relationship, this is going to lead to problems (if it hasn't already). You don't really treat your boss like a "boss". There seems to be a lack of respect, though it probably isn't malicious. You just see her as a friend so you aren't afraid to tell her what you're thinking. This should be a wake-up call for you. If you aren't careful, this could become a really sticky mess. Your boss is partly responsible for this as well. The lines of professionalism have been blurred. Remember that she is not a friend. She is a superior. You need to show her respect and do your job to the best of your ability. Just because your boss likes you, doesn't mean she won't fire you. Sorry to be so blunt. But that's the truth of the matter.