Do Purchasing & Procurement staffers understand your ground rules for getting along with the boss?

Incredibly enough, there are plenty of folks out there who draw a blank if you ask them.

Here are four directions to set them on the right track:

Loyalty. Sure, it’s OK to ask the boss questions. But you really shouldn’t be bad-mouthing the boss or questioning his or her decisions while you’re hanging out at the water cooler. When times get tough, your boss needs your backing more than ever.

Tell me, tell me. No boss likes to be surprised, especially if the surprise is delivered by another manager: “Did you know one of your people …” It makes the boss looks like they’ve lost control over what’s going on in their own department. Also, if your boss learns of a problem in this fashion, it’s often too late to do too much about it.

Drop the finger-pointing. Bosses don’t want an earful of excuses. They want results, or at least progress. Share that information with them.

Think positive. Don’t be an Eeyore. Bosses need you to keep your attitude positive, at all times. If you’re upbeat and enthusiastic, it’ll rub off on co-workers — and make the job easier for the boss.

Tags: boss, procurement, purchasing