I would like to get in good with my boss, without brown-nosing. Ideas?

Try to understand what’s going on inside your boss’s head as thoroughly as possible, and if you don’t “get” it, don’t be afraid to ask. The longer you work with someone, the more you’ll understand the types of things that drive him crazy. And, if you’re feeling bold, you might even ask, “Can you give me a list of things that you really value and really dislike in the teams you manage? That will help me stay on track.” What sane person wouldn’t answer that question? Plus, it will show that you care about keeping him happy.

I give the boss all the power. It costs me nothing. And if someone feels like they have all the power, they are much more likely to give it away. I found that in dealing with people, they really like that. When you give respect, you get respect. I realized this when I watched the way I treated the boss and the response I got, and I watched the way other people treated the boss and the response they got. My response wins. If you give respect, you get it.

Always laugh at your boss's jokes!

Find something you have in common so you always have something not work related to bond over. In my first out of college job, I won huge points with my company’s director and some other high-ranking colleagues by being able to talk football. The director was a Georgia Tech fan. Although I am a University of Georgia fan, I kept up with Tech enough to speak intelligently. I credit not being laid off in a huge downsizing because I not only had shown that I was a dedicated employee, but I was considered a friend.