There is a right and a wrong way of befriending one’s boss. Truth be told, most bosses would like to befriend their employees but feel the need to draw an invisible barrier as they are scared of losing their clout and authority.

What you should do:

Do what your boss does for pleasure
It is in our nature to interact more with people who have a fondness for things we ourselves enjoy doing. So if you want your boss to take a shine at you, find interesting ways of partnering up with him outside of the office.

Whether it’s at the golf course, the theatre or at the gym, cubicle dwellers can easily pally up with their superiors if they have a fondness for a common activity that connects and binds them outside of the office. This is an excellent way of building a relationship that is not based on authority, but rather camaraderie.

Get into his world
What do you talk about with your boss when you get a chance to interact with him in a casual laid back environment like an office get-together? Avoid talking things like office politics, expected profits or customer complaints, as this will only reinforce the feeling that he’s your boss and not your friend. So when you actually converse with him on personal topics like cricket, movies or just a great vacation spot, you will automatically talk as if you are speaking to your friend and not to your boss. The deferential air that you normally have around yourself will disappear when you direct the conversation toward interesting topics that feel personal and natural.

Ask about all the small stuff
You may not care about your boss’s kid turning seven, but your boss certainly does. While inquiring about these minor things you don’t have to act like an absolute kiss ass but mentioning the small items, like birthdays for example or a great place where he can take his kid for an outing can really make a huge difference. This is, after all, how friends interact.

Meet the Mrs
Being in the good books of the boss’s wife can do a world of good to your career. So if you get an opportunity to be introduced to her, don’t waste it. Make sure you create a powerful alliance with the real decision maker because you never know when a few words of casual praise from the boss’s boss, can result in you getting shifted from a cubicle to a cabin.

It would do your career a world of good if you’re are able to become the person your boss enjoys confiding in. However, there are number of office information that’s just not meant for your ears. So while your boss may enjoy gossiping to you about the lousy job your co-workers are doing, try and steer off the conversation to something less gossipy if it gets into the danger zone. Heaven forbid if your boss joking tells you that you that your colleague is about to get the boot. Now you’re sitting in a totally uncomfortable situation.

Moreover, Becoming pally with your boss should always be treated as a strategic alliance. Never reveal to your boss things that should be reserved for your friends. The last thing you would dream of telling him is how you could barely get a wink of sleep last night because you out partying with your all your college buddies.

The best thing to do is act like a nice friendly guy who always maintains his cool. The moment you start treating your boss like a man crush, you will loose the plot and get yourself in mess.