HBR Guides to Managing Your Career Collection (6 Books)

Get to Know Your Boss’s Boss

by Priscilla Claman

Does your boss’s boss know you well? Is she impressed with you? Does she know exactly what you do? If you can’t answer these questions with a “yes,” you’re missing out on career opportunities.

Here’s a person with a broad perspective on your organization, someone who can see what’s coming down the pike—whether it’s a new product or a reorg—more clearly than you or your boss can. Forming a relationship with her will help you develop a 30,000-foot view, too. But it’s more than that. She has a direct say in your growth and advancement. She approves your performance reviews, raises, promotions, and major changes in duties. She also signs off on any professional development you might be offered, such ...