5 Ways to Earn Trust & Respect from Your Boss

Boss happy with his employee. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Before you step into your new position and start working to make a great impression on your boss and coworkers, keep these tips in mind. A few simple moves like these can help you launch your career on the right foot and start immediately earning the trust and respect of those around you. Every morning when you first arrive and every evening before you leave, keep these considerations in mind.

1. Follow through on the promise of your resume.

If your resume clearly stated a claim, an area of specialized knowledge, or a specific personal ambition that aligns with your new employer’s goals, make sure you follow through on these promises. Keep them in mind as you move forward into your new workplace and don’t become distracted by other obligations and challenges that may arise during your adjustment period.

Far too often, when new employees struggle to gain their footing, employers often wonder what happened to these ambitions and expectations. As in: “I thought he was going to help us complete this implementation before the end of the year,” or “I thought she would help us eliminate our morale and productivity problems. It seems like that mission fell through the cracks.”

2. Invest everything in your first week.

During your first week on a new job, make it seem as though nothing matters more to you than this company and this position. Stay present and dialed in during every minute of the working day (including breaks and lunch), ask questions, and look hungrily for ways to make an impact and live up to the expectations placed upon you. Dress your best, smile your widest, take on more than your share, and show up early.

3. Earn the trust of your coworkers.

Your boss will be watching closely to see how well your performance measures up against your potential. But she’ll also be watching to see how well you get along with your peers and your direct reports. If you impress them, you’ll impress her. And your boss doesn’t have to personally witness every interaction; plenty of conversations happening around you will begin with the words “what do you think of X so far? Do you think she’ll do well here? Is she finding her feet?” If the answer is positive, then you’ll be off to a great start.

4. Make things happen without clear instructions.

By all means, ask for all the help and clarification you need. If there’s ever going to be an easy and appropriate time to do this, it’s now. But keep in mind that during your early trial period, small acts of independence and initiative will carry an enormous amount of weight. If you handle something on your own, or make a problem go away without the benefit of hand-holding and clear instructions, you’ll raise eyebrows (in a good way).

5. Fix your mistakes.

During your first few weeks on the job, you’re going to make at least a few mistakes (if you’re truly putting yourself out there.) But you’ll make a great impression if you go out of your way to fix your mistakes, learn from them, and put your train immediately back on the rails. If you demonstrate your resilience and your growth potential early on, you’ll gain the benefit of the doubt no matter what happens down the road.

LiveCareer (www.livecareer.com), home to America’s #1 Resume Builder, connects job seekers of all experience levels and career categories to all the tools, resources and insider tips needed to win the job. Find LiveCareer on Youtube and visit LiveCareer’s Google+ page for even more tips and advice on all things career and resume-related.