22 February,2011 08:54 AM IST | | FYI Team
The boss is going on vacation for a week. Do these words spell 'time to goof off' to you? If yes, then you need to rethink your professional attitude. The best time to shine in the workplace and be appreciated for your efficiency is when you are given the opportunity to function independently. Here are a few tips to gain brownie points when the boss is away:
Make a plan
Before your boss leaves for her holiday, chart out your plan of action with him/her. Outline what duties you will be fulfilling. Also, refer to any projects or assignments that have been on the back burner and which you are confident of completing when she is away. Most often, employees find that their efficiency improves and they have more time on hand when the boss is not around to keep answering to. Take advantage of that time productively.
Take charge
If your boss is the immediate superior in the department, offer to takeu00a0 on some of the supervisory tasks when she's away. Make sure that this is conveyed to your team members before your boss leaves so that there are no hard feelings. While in charge, don't make any radical decisions, and definitely don't talk down to your fellow colleagues. Once your boss is back, you will be one of them again.
Communicate
It is all very well to feel that you should not intrude on your boss's 'off time'. Yet there are those bosses who like to be in the know at all times. If you have a boss who likes to be kept in the loop, email an update to her on a daily basis. It also means less reasons for the boss to call you in the work day.
Track results
Keep a record of what has been accomplished while the boss was away. This way, you prove your efficiency and your superior will know that you are trustworthy. It also won't hurt when the next appraisal is being conducted. But be careful not to present it in a way that makes the boss feel redundant!
The things you should never do, is come in late, take long lunch breaks or leave early. Even if you are not the kind of person to take on more responsibility, at least ensure that your daily duties are being done in an efficient manner.
