How did you maintain a good relationship with your most recent boss?

"Communication. I always let my boss know where I stood on projects. Sometimes the communications were daily, sometimes weekly, depending on the situation. There were never any surprises."

"I find it important to understand what motivates my boss and what his pain points are. I can not only make myself more valuable by taking some items off of his plate, but I can also help collaborate on issues with him. Spending time understanding who he is as a person, so we develop a strong rapport, allows us to work collaboratively and effectively, all the while enjoying our time together."

"I find maintaining good relationships with bosses pretty natural. I show them respect as well as maintain interest in their professional opinion and personal life and treat them with kindness. It's a pretty sure fire way to stay in good standing. I ask her opinion on my curriculum, to be observed and evaluated, and for feedback. All of these factors culminate in a solid relationship based on mutual respect."

"I genuinely like my current boss. I reached out to her specifically because I liked her, her company, and platform. We have good communication and can give each other honest and open feedback, which I think is important for our relationship as well as the business."

"I maintained a great relationship with my most recent boss by readily accepting feedback and implementing it immediately. He is a very busy person, and I learned early on that he needed to know that his advice meant something to me."

The interviewer wants to know that you are capable of maintaining a harmonious relationship with those who are considered your leaders.

If your relationship with your boss wasn't fantastic, what efforts did you take to make it better? Here are some suggestions:

- Try to understand what your boss values the most
- Keep your cool, even when you want to lose it
- Anticipate their needs and stay one step ahead
- Take leadership opportunities to show your worth
- Adapt to their preferences

Some basic ground rules for a stable working relationship with your boss are open communication, proactive listening, and not taking things personally. Discuss the ways that you cultivated a healthy relationship with your boss.

"My current boss is a very particular individual. Over the years I have taken the time to understand her preferences, her stress triggers, and what she enjoys seeing in my work. I find that if I stay one step ahead and maintain a positive attitude, we can work productively together."

Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.