Working for a high performer boss can be the most exhilarating experience of your life or it can be the most exasperating. It all depends on how ready you are to meet the challenge. You might have heard people say, “This is the best boss I’ve ever had. But they are also the most demanding and difficult.” If you’ve experienced this scenario, chances are your boss is a high-maintenance high-performer. Here are five tips that will help you in working with your high-maintenance high-performer boss. Get down to business when communicating with your high-maintenance high-performer boss.
1) Get down to business when communicating with your high-maintenance high-performer boss.
When working for a high performer, especially one who is high-maintenance, it’s important to recognize their boundaries. If your boss wants to chitchat, they’ll let you know—otherwise, focus on the project at hand. This type of boss’s sense of urgency and drive can be challenging to navigate, particularly if you’re someone who tends to get caught up in the analytical side of things or resists change. If you believe the analytical work you’re doing is important, communicate its benefits and results clearly. Always deliver your project on time because a high-maintenance high performer does not want to be slowed down by missed deadlines.
2) Don’t take it personally!
High-maintenance high performer bosses tend to think out loud. They turn ideas over in rapid fire, juggle multiple scenarios, think about the present while exploring the future. Remember not to take what they say and how they say it personally, because often the intensity you hear isn’t directed at you. It’s their internal motivation for getting things right and their need to be moving forward at all times that creates this intensity. Always listen, evaluate and question when the comment or direction is not clear or appears inaccurate. Being direct communicators, high-maintenance high-performer bosses appreciate direct feedback and questions
3) Give your high-maintenance high-performer boss only essential details.
When working for a high performer, especially one who is high-maintenance, it’s important to recognize their boundaries. If your boss wants to chitchat, they’ll let you know—otherwise, focus on the project at hand. This type of boss’s sense of urgency and drive can be challenging to navigate, particularly if you’re someone who tends to get caught up in the analytical side of things or resists change. If you believe the analytical work you’re doing is important, communicate its benefits and results clearly. Always deliver your project on time because a high-maintenance high performer does not want to be slowed down by missed deadlines.
4) Always approach working for your high performer boss with solutions.
One common misperception about working for a high performer, particularly one who is high-maintenance, is that they are intolerant of mistakes. In reality, these bosses often take the blame themselves if something goes wrong. If you make a mistake, be ready to discuss it openly and present possible solutions. Don’t hesitate to approach your boss, even if your ideas aren’t perfect—but never come to the table without options. When working for a high performer, offering solutions, no matter how small, is far better than showing up empty-handed, as they value productivity and forward-thinking.
5) Establish a timeline and priority for projects and requests.
When working for a high performer, particularly one who is high-maintenance, it’s essential to understand their sense of urgency. When they ask for something, they mean now, so always establish a clear deadline. To ensure it’s realistic, take the lead: “Okay, this is what you need; this is when I’ll deliver it.” Avoid leaving projects open-ended. Do what you say you’ll do, and if obstacles arise, communicate them promptly. High-maintenance high performers are natural problem solvers and will assist when presented with options. Highlight your achievements and your team’s success—your accomplishments reflect positively on them. When working for a high performer, making them look good is always appreciated!