True or false: It’s up to you to train your manager.

Well…yes and no.

Of course, you should be specific and direct to your manager about what you respond to (i.e., what best motivates you), but also appreciate your manager knows a thing or two… about the business and about helping sellers like you.

Manager/seller relations are rarely perfect from the outset (if it appears otherwise, someone is holding out). Communication courage is needed by both sides to reach a high level of trust for both of you; perhaps you won’t be attending each other’s weddings, so what, you’ll save some moolah staying home.

Here are a few tips that might help your communication efforts with your manager:
1. Be direct, honest, specific, and clear. (Yeah, you know this…so do it.)
2. Focus on strategic issues, not the tactical stuff. Show your manager your thinking.
3. Limit email conversations between the two of you. Too much context is lost when email is the dominant communication mode.

Don’t forget, a regular rotation of offsite meetings between the two of you will get you deeper on everything: business issues, interpersonal situations, and problem-solving, to name a few.

Finally, don’t talk smack about your manager to others. Even though your peers might be spewing at you while you’re sipping a cold one at the bar, don’t fall for it. Not only is it a bad look, but it’s unfair to your manager and inappropriate.

Your manager is doing the best job possible to help you. If it’s not what you need or want, it’s ALSO on you to fix it.