15 Signs Your Boss Wants You To Stay At Your Job
It can be hard to read the signs your boss appreciates you.
Kevin Malik, Jacob Lund, Nicola Katie, 1001Love / Canva While you're in the throes of your day-to-day workload, it can be difficult to see the signs your boss appreciates you and wants you to stay at your job.
Sometimes the signs can be confusing and might not always lead to the clearest realization that your boss values the work you do and thinks that you’re good at your job and good for the company.
Of course, it is always good to have a boss who likes you, as it makes your time at work easier and sometimes less stressful. It can lead you to receive a pay raise, learn about certain promotions while also being considered for any higher-up opportunities, and simply help you feel like your work is valued and appreciated.
Here are 15 signs your boss appreciates you and wants you to stay at your job.
1. They recognize your talent and hard work.
It’s always nice to receive recognition for your strengths and accomplishments from your boss. It means that they are noticing what you are doing, along with the time and effort you are putting into your work.
Usually, if your boss is commending you on a job well done, it means they appreciate having you on their team, and ultimately don’t want to see you go.
They see you as a valuable asset in the company, especially in instances where they might show your work as examples to other employees on how to do something, or they regularly compliment you on different tasks that you’ve done, pointing out certain things they might like.
2. They challenge you.
If your boss is regularly giving you harder assignments and asking you to take on tasks that might require a little bit more work, it usually means that they think you can handle it.
They see you as someone who rises to the challenge, and can effectively get something done that might be harder for your other coworkers.
It could vary from your boss potentially giving you a task that they typically only do themselves or letting you come with them into certain meetings in which you can learn a new skill set.
Either way, it’s always a good sign when your boss is actively trying to challenge you and give you opportunities to grow within the company.
3. They trust you with important assignments.
If your boss is seeking you out to work on important projects that are vital to the company, it means that your boss trusts you and your work ethic.
It’s an indication that you are extremely good at your job and can be a great representative for the company.
Your boss trusts you to speak with important clients and take care of important documents knowing that you can handle any obstacles along the way.
4. They provide feedback.
If your boss is giving you feedback of any kind, and that includes positive or constructive criticism, it means that they value your work and want to acknowledge it.
Of course, positive feedback is always wonderful to hear, especially if you’ve put a lot of effort into your work.
Constructive feedback can still be appreciated as well, as it means your boss is interested in seeing you improve and wants to provide help in making sure you can succeed.
5. They give you the freedom to make decisions.
If your boss is letting you take control of certain tasks that you do throughout the day, it usually means that they trust you enough to let you take control.
It could mean that your boss is giving you creative freedom when it comes to ideas that you want to work on, or that they trust your judgment enough to prioritize all of the important tasks.
Giving you the freedom to make decisions can also mean that your boss wants to see how you handle the task of making important decisions, and how you step up as a leader.
6. They often ask for one-on-one meetings.
If your boss is taking the time out of their busy schedule to have meetings with you, it is usually a good sign that they value your work and want you to stay.
It’s even more of a positive sign if your boss schedules these meetings to talk to you about your growth within the company, as well as future opportunities that might be coming your way.
It shows that there is a line of communication open between you and your boss, and that they are genuinely interested in hearing what you have to say.
7. They give you a pay raise.
This is probably the easiest way to tell if your boss likes you and wants you to stay.
Usually, a pay raise means that they see your hard work and want to reward you for all of the effort that you are putting into the company. It’s a way to let you know that they appreciate you and that they don’t want your work to go unnoticed.
8. They ask for your opinion.
If your boss is seeking you out to get your opinion on certain tasks or projects, it can mean that they trust your input as a worker for their company.
Your boss definitely wants you to stay on their team if they come to you for input and maybe even feedback on important topics.
Through the work that you do, your boss can tell that you have a certain eye for things and might want you to help in improving certain things around the company.
9. They recommend you for promotions.
If your boss is putting in a good word for you to receive a promotion or any other higher-up role within the company, it means they pay attention to the work you do and want to put you in better opportunities.
A boss that is taking the time to make sure that you are growing within their team, and constantly checking in and inquiring about your aspirations, can usually mean that they care about you and they don’t want your work to go unnoticed.
It’s always a good sign when your boss is putting in the good word about your hard work!
10. They don't micromanage you.
Having a micromanaging boss can make you feel hesitant to do your job while in the workplace, as they tend to hover over you, control every part of your position, and make you feel untrustworthy.
A boss who appreciates you, however, has utter and complete trust in you to complete your tasks in a timely manner.
While they may check in with you now and then to ensure you are staying on track, they certainly don't have any issues with your work ethic or performance.
11. They include you in important discussions.
Whether it's team meetings, smaller discussions with other employees, or conversations about your future at your job, your boss appreciates you and wants you to stay if they invite you to participate.
By doing so, this means your boss sees you as a valuable member of the team, and trusts you to add something meaningful to any discussions.
12. They foster a professional relationship built on open communication and trust.
Sometimes, bosses or managers lack proper communication skills, which can frustrate any worker and make them feel unrecognized or undervalued.
But a boss who appreciates you as their employee will take the time to communicate honestly and directly, and remain transparent about their thoughts and ideas in a way in which you feel heard.
This allows you and your colleagues or teammates to resolve conflicts easier and work together in a more collaborative manner.
13. They ask you questions about your personal life.
A boss who truly likes you as a person and appreciates all your hard work will take time every now and then to inquire about your personal life — in a professional manner, of course.
It's essential for a good boss to care about their employees, even when they are outside of the workplace. Just realize that your boss isn't trying to interrogate you — they are just trying to make sure you're happy and that your life outside of work isn't bringing you down.
14. They allow your responsibilities to grow.
When a boss trusts an employee, they allow them to grow in the workplace, which, for you, means taking on more responsibilities and adding to your workload.
While some may consider this action as a way to just give you "more work," it just means they value the work you do and know you are more than capable of completing tasks as needed.
However, if you feel overwhelmed by your new duties or responsibilities, it's always a good idea to talk to your boss directly.
15. They let you know that they are here to help you.
A boss letting you know that they are around to help and support you means that they don’t want you to feel overwhelmed and they want you to succeed.
Supervisors can become extremely busy and might not have time to check in with every single one of their employees, so if you see them taking time out of their day to check in with how you are doing, it means they are paying attention to your work ethic.
They want to make sure that your workday isn’t filled with hardships, and are opening up their line of communication for any concerns that you may have. They simply want to make sure that you are feeling valued and respected so that you are more inclined to stick around.
Nia Tipton is a Chicago-based entertainment, news, and lifestyle writer whose work delves into modern-day issues and experiences.