There are some key things that you need to know to have an effective working relationship with your boss. What are your manager’s strengths and opportunity areas? No leader can know or be good at everything so it is important to do some of this research. How can you help support your manager in the opportunity areas?
Look for the things that will increase the value of your relationship and will provide ways that you can build trust. It is also a good idea to see who they have good (or not so good) relationships with in the organization. Are there bridges that you can help them build with key people to improve those relationships? How can you help your manager have stronger influence with these people?
All of these examples will help your manager improve their perception which creates a positive view of the organization and ultimately reflects on those who work on their team. If your manager isn’t doing well then it has a ripple effect that could be negative. They could be replaced or your team could be changed or eliminated. The opposite can also be true that if they are doing well, they will move on to their next role sooner and you will have to build a new relationship with the new manager.
Change is always going to happen and you can’t prevent it. However, you can do your part to ensure the success of the whole team regardless of the outcome of the manager at the top. This is what will make you shine as a leader no matter who your manager is and how they are doing.