Question: “I am a person who deals best in black and white (definites), but my boss deals best in gray (scattered visionary). How can I hit a balance between us and work more effectively with him?” — Anonymous
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Sometimes your boss needs to learn how to work with an assistant. I wrote an article called Working for the Disorganized that might be helpful to you http://secretaryhelpline.blogspot.com/2008/10/working-for-disorganized.html , and another one Teaching your Boss to be the Boss http://secretaryhelpline.blogspot.com/2008/04/teaching-your-boss-to-be-boss.html .
I was in the same situation, but (this will age me a bit) it was before e-mail came along. I would have “just to clarify” conversations almost daily, whenever something was assigned to me. Doing this via E-mail is better since you have documentation to prevent subsequent “that’s not what I said” situations. These constant clarifications helped us both tremendously.
djsd has it right on when she says don’t ramble or wander. Otherwise, you will not resolve anything as things need to be CRYSTAL clear in verification and to the point. Very good suggestions!!
Anon2′s suggestions are right on point. You must take the lead in requesting (gently, tactfully of course) clarity when the vision isn’t so clear to you. I would add the following:
Before you sit down with your boss, make sure you’ve read all the pertinent material and write down (for yourself) the 2 or 3 key questions you need to ask. Don’t ramble or wander.
Hope this helps. Good luck
I have worked in this same type of scenario for seven years. I have found the following to be most helpful to me:
1. I schedule on his calendar and mine a brief 10-15 meeting once or twice a week to make sure we are on track with whatever is going on that week and the beginning of the next.
2. I always send an email that state in Subject Line “Clarification” whenever I need a clearer answer and then in the base of the email I keep it short and to the point what it is I need the clarification on.
3. I always ask when dealing with issues or projects what he would like to see happen. I then ask how he sees the answers or how he would like to have it resolved. I then let him know I will be able to do A.B.C. in order to make the issue or project come to light with his vision. If there is something that I cannot handle I will then suggest that so-so would be good at that and would he likfe for me to contact that person for their assistance or input.