Buttering up the boss

Seedy romances aside, impressing the boss is no mean feat!

Their hard-nosed, thick-skinned attitude won them the job in the first place, so how on earth are you supposed to overcome this relatively unachievable hurdle I hear you cry?

Well, there's mor eto it than coffee-refills and dinner dates it's fair to say... although this maybe a good place to start.

1. Keep it clean - speaking badly of your boss is a problem waiting to happen.

No sooner will you have uttered those negative words to your desk-buddy, than, through the office grapevine, the whole office (and indeed your employer) will have happened to hear the same speech act also.

It seems the boss' office is the nodal point of any abusive communication; he/she has ears everywhere!

So let it be a lesson learned that boss-denouncing is an inevitable no-no!

2. Stay away - running to the boss to inform him/her of a minor problem or warn him/her of an employer fallout will not go down well.

Keep your distance, get your work done and spare yourself the label of 'workplace nuisance'.

3. Smile - garishly grinning at every person you come into contact with will ensure you make friends with as many people in the building as possible.[-[quote]-]

Once you have been established as a well-liked colleague and member of the team, the boss will soon catch on.

Even if you don't get any acknowledgment for simply being nice,the boss may still take note and a possible pay-rise could indeed be in the offing.

4. Just admit it - whether it's a broken coffee mug or fall in shares, owning up to your mistakes can only make the situation better.

Liars and snitchers can be spotted a mile off, especially by bosses; just think how many malicious people they have had to compete with in their climb to the top!

You may get shouted at, heaven forbid you may even get fired, but at least you were honest and you're dignity remains untarnished.

5. Practise good time-keeping - you know your primary school teacher wasn't always just made to say that; punctuality is a necessity in workplace ethic.

Don't rely on the town clock or, more worryingly, the farmyard cockerel!

Buy yourself an alarm clock, a wrist watch and a pocket-watch if need be. Just stick to arranged time frames and you'll soon be reaping the rewards (albeit minorly).