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Having a boss who is truly invested in your well-being and your individual career growth is priceless. But a boss who doesn’t like you or, worse, doesn’t care can be incredibly demoralizing. You can’t make people like you, but you can take some steps to ensure that your relationship with your boss is the best it can be.

Here are some ways to get your boss to invest more in you.

Be an Asset

The first step to getting your manager on board with your growth is to show her your value. Excel at your basic duties while also volunteering for extra projects, taking a class, or developing a new skill. Be careful to avoid burnout, but demonstrating that you’re invested in both yourself and the company can go a long way toward getting your boss on your side.

Build a Relationship

Asking your boss to invest in you shouldn’t be a one-time request. Take the time to build a relationship with her and try to establish a regular schedule for checking in. During these conversations, talk about where you see yourself over the next few years. Also, ask what she sees as your strengths and weaknesses, and how you can work to improve yourself.

Explain the Benefits

If you want your manager’s support in making a specific career move, explain how it benefits the company, or her directly. Maybe you want to learn a skill that can take the pressure off a related department, or perhaps you can move into a position of taking over your boss’s least favorite tasks. Before your conversation, come up with a game plan for how to get to where you want to be, and be ready to address her objections to your proposal.

Ask for Advice

Though it’s important to have a proposed plan, it’s equally important to stay flexible. Your conversation with your boss should focus on figuring out the next steps as a team. Your manager may have insights you hadn’t considered, and she might be able to open doors that you didn’t realize existed.

Unfortunately, even your most valiant efforts may not be enough to get your supervisor to invest in you. For whatever reason, sometimes two people don’t click. If you can’t seem to get your boss on your side, it may be time to look for a new position.

Looking for a New Opportunity?

To learn how OneSource Staffing can help you find your next career move, take a look at our job board, and then join us today.