It’s hard to resist a boss’s charm. And it’s harder when you’re constantly interacting with them and getting attracted at the same time!
It’s true, people fall in love all the time. And it can happen at work too. And sometimes, you may find yourself falling for your boss or dating them even before you realize it.
Of course, you get to spend all day working in the same office. And both of you have similar fields of work which makes communication and compatibility so much easier to handle because both your interests and passions in life align along the same direction. But as perfect as the scenario may seem, is it all pretty and rosy?
DATING A BOSS AND YOUR LOVE LIFE
There’s a lot of good in dating someone from the workplace, especially your boss. The perks of dating them are plenty, and the time spent together, well that’s a lot too. But as awesome as the pros of dating a boss can seem, it also does come with a big share of cons too.
If you aren’t dating your boss yet and just find yourself falling for them, think twice about it because you could be getting yourself into something that could be very complicated unless you set clear boundaries.
Office romances are frowned upon in most places, but workplaces still stir up a lot of romances and emotional affairs all the time. Suppose you have decided to make your boss fall in love with you, well, here are 12 great tips that you can use to get the jobs done, and trust me, they work. I even used some of them to get my boss fall in love with me when I got one of my jobs in South Africa.
1. TURN COMPLIMENTS INTO FLATTERING QUESTIONS
You can flatter your boss without complimenting his or her outfit every morning in the elevator. People love hearing about their own successes, so bringing up your boss’s achievements in the form of a question allows you to get advice and brownie points. Ask about how he or she landed that new account. Just remember that you are no fan girl and your boss is not Adam Levine.
2. BECOME A REALLY GOOD SPY
Find out if your boss went to the same college as you, or your brother, or that really distant cousin who you briefly met at a family barbecue three years ago did, then make a connection. Maybe your boss goes to the same church as you do and you are both involved with the same charity. Bosses will be more likely to remember you and trust you if they can connect you to their life outside work.
3. WALK LIKE A NEW YORKER
Walk around the office with purpose. Confident, quick strides will give your boss a positive impression. It will make you look busy and committed to the assignment you are working on. But try to look like you like your job, and whatever you do, don’t trip.
4. SELF-PROMOTE
Your friends and coworkers say they don’t care about that latest BuzzFeed quiz on your wall, but you know they click it anyway — you might as well give them something positive to read. Social media is a personal résumé that people habitually read. If you want your boss to recognize your success, brand yourself. Post an achievement online on behalf of your team. But try to follow the contradictory rules of social media and flaunt yourself subtly.
5. MINI PROGRESS REPORTS
It can be hard to get face time with the person in charge since he or she is busy all the time…or you know, just really scary and unapproachable. But sending a status update in an email saying what you are currently working on lets him or her know that you are being productive and making progress. Just try not to spam his or her email 10 times a day.
6. WRITE FOR YOUR EDITOR
In journalism, you are told to stand out and find voice in your writing, but it is also common knowledge that you write specifically to the likes of your editor. This applies in any field. If your boss prefers very detailed reports, then you add ALL the details. And if he or she just wants an outline, don’t send in a 10-page report. The world is a better place when the boss is happy — at least your world, anyway.
7. OFFER TO TAKE ON EXTRA WORK
Although this may seem more obvious, it is always a good idea to get your work done a little early so you can offer to help out with some of your boss’s work. Plus, asking for another assignment allows for more communication with the boss-person. Eventually, you will be your boss’s go-to girl. It only took a little bit of sucking up.
8. BE A HEAD-TURNER
By this it doesn’t mean you wear flimsy clothing to work! Micro-mini skirts or plunging necklines will catch his attention, yes, but may give him the wrong impression. Look chic and smart, and easy on the eyes. Learn how to do your makeup right to accentuate your best features. Also, make sure you smell nice. Make sure your perfume is not too strong though because he might end up sneezing all day long!
9. BE A GOOD LISTENER
Guys love to talk, especially when it comes to their interests (which includes talking about themselves). So just let him talk and listen intently. Nod reassuringly to show that you are also interested. When it’s your turn to talk, make sure what you’re about to say is substantial, something to complement the things he just said, but without sounding patronizing. Most importantly, know when to stop talking because guys don’t like it when they’re no longer in charge of the conversation.
10. LEARN HOW TO TAKE HIS JOKES
Guys love it when girls have a sense of humor, especially when you know how to laugh at their jokes, and it makes them feel really good about themselves. You don’t have to do a laugh-your-heart-out outlandish kind of reaction; a good, soft, flirty laugh is enough to do the trick.
11. BE NICE TO EVERYONE
He’ll definitely notice you if you’re nice to him, but he will notice you more if you are nice to everyone and he figures out what a nice gal you are, no matter whom you’re dealing with. Treat the janitor the same way you treat your boss, with respect and dignity. The more you do this, the more he’ll know what an awesome, gorgeous, smart girl you really are.
12. SUBTLE FLIRTING WORKS
Again, don’t be too obvious. You want him, but not the entire company to know you like him, right? So make “your moves” in a subtle way. Smile a little, laugh a little, flip your hair a bit – you know, things only he will notice you are doing. If your boss has a good radar, he’ll get the message.
If you’re having a secret relationship with your boss, and are certain you’re the only one they’re in a relationship with, that’s good for you. But if you ever feel like you’re being cheated on or being used, it’ll only leave you more confused and devastated because you can’t even confront anybody about it!
Dating your boss isn’t all bad. There’s every possibility of a perfect relationship blooming out of it too. But all said and done, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
