Every now and then the menopausal woman should take the time to connect in a truly meaningful way with her inner bitch. There are few more loyal sources of strength in the daily battles we face both at home and in the office. The best survival strategy for peace in our time is, of course, to release your inner angel at home and save the dark side for those truly worthy opponents in the corporate world – like the new-on-the-block whizz kids with the bright ideas they think no-one has ever thought or implemented before. You know the type – heck, you probably sit down with them once a year so they can do your performance review because it’s pretty inevitable , unless you’ve shattered the glass ceiling, that you’re going to find yourself having to deal with a new boss or two in your middle years. Now, don’t get me wrong. I can take orders as well as any woman my age ( you know, grinning through gritted teeth …) But where’s the fun in that? Why miss the opportunity to help your colleagues grow by allowing them find their way around that most challenging of management tasks – motivating the menopausal woman? So, fellow sufferers, here are my 10 steps to managing the new boss.
- Step 1: Keep your cynicism under wraps
- Step 2: Flatter him. Done carefully, he’ll lap it up and be putty in your hands.
- Step 3: Know his priorities. If he doesn’t care about what you’re doing, you’re wasting your time no matter how good a job you’re doing.
- Step 4: Develop your own credibility – if others trust you, he will too
- Step 5: Ask for his opinion. He’ll always have one.
- Step 6: Never present him with a problem unless you have the solution.
- Step 7: Remember and use the following phrase frequently, “Thank you – that was helpful”
- Step 8: Always promise a little less than you know you can deliver so you contantly exceed his expectations.
- Step 9: Once you have him where you want him, delegate up – after all, who is better qualified than him to take on those really challenging tasks?
- Step 10: Plan what to do with your new-found ‘me’ time.
Warning: Opinions expressed in this blog should not be taken too seriously.
