Your boss plays in important role in your professional success. Would you say you have a solid working relationship with your manager — or do you just merely get along? It’s not always easy to foster an authentic, positive relationship with your boss, but it’s important to strive for the right balance of professional and friendly.

How do you do this? Jim Belosic, the CEO of ShortStack, has put together a list of five ideas for cultivating a healthy, respectful relationship with your boss. We outline his thoughts in this issue of PromoPro Daily.

1. Set up regular meetings. Your boss will appreciate the initiative, especially if they oversee a large team. Belosic recommends scheduling monthly meetings to keep your boss up to speed on what you’re working on and any challenges you might be facing. He says you can also use the time to present any ideas and to make sure you’re on track with your manager’s strategies.

2. Show your innovation. Being innovative and taking initiative shows your manager that you’re invested in growing with the company, and that is bound to lead to a better relationship between the two of you, Belosic says. Keep a running list of ideas and be ready to share them in your one-on-ones.

3. Strive for open communication. This means that if you disagree with your boss, respectfully say so. Belosic says to remember that you were hired because you have a specific set of skills that the company values, and you may be able to offer a different perspective than your supervisor. When you create a relationship built on open communication, you’ll be able to uncover the best ideas.

4. Remember that your boss is a person, too. He or she isn’t just the one who hired you and has the capability to promote you. Your boss is a person just like you, with external worries and joys. Belosic says employees should take time to ask their boss questions like, “How are you?” and “Did you do anything fun over the weekend?” He says this isn’t about being best friends but communicating on a more personal level.

5. Be yourself. To build a stronger alliance with your boss, just be yourself. You don’t have to put on a false front if something in your personal life is taking a toll on you. Ask for what you need and be willing to compromise, Belosic says. Your relationship with your boss will be better as a result.

When you have a positive bond with your boss, it makes for more enjoyable work. And if difficulties arise, you won’t have to figure things out on your own — you’ll have an ally on your side.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Jim Belosic is the CEO of ShortStack, a self-service platform used to build engaging campaigns for social, web and mobile.