15 Signs Your Boss Likes You

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Coworkers with yellow hard hats hold a discussion at a work site, with one holding a tablet and the other pieces of paper.

If you notice signs your boss likes you, it can help you feel more confident about your work. Interpersonal relationships at work can be complicated, and most managers will not outright tell you if they like you. For this reason, it's helpful to understand everyday signs that your supervisor appreciates you and the work you do.

In this article, we describe 15 signs that might indicate that your manager likes you and why that matters.

Why it matters if your boss likes you

Having a boss who likes you and that you get along with can make your work life a lot easier. Not everyone gets along with their manager, and it's not a requirement for doing a good job or being satisfied with your role. However, you may find it easier to learn about promotions, be given challenging and interesting work or feel valued in your job if your supervisor likes you.

There can be many signs your manager likes you, and not all of them are obvious. Not every supervisor will do all of these things, so you may need to watch how they react to you over time.

Related: 27 Dos and Don'ts for How To Talk To Your Boss

15 signs your manager likes you

Here are some of the most common signs your manager likes you:

1. They challenge you

If your supervisor regularly gives you challenging assignments or asks you to learn a new skill, they believe you can handle more than what you're currently doing. This can be a good sign because it means they think you're capable of handling a new responsibility.

Related: What To Do When You’re Not Being Challenged at Work

2. They rely on you

If you are your manager's go-to person when they need help with something at work, it can be a good sign that indicates they believe you are trustworthy. When your supervisor knows they can rely on you after you have assisted with a variety of situations, you have most likely proven to be dependable.

3. They trust you with key clients and assignments

If your manager gives you new responsibilities that could have a major impact on your company's business, they are indicating that they believe you know how to handle important situations. They know that you can be a good representative of the company when given the opportunity to speak with other departments or external clients.

Related: 14 Ways To Build Trust in the Workplace

4. You feel respected

Of course, all managers should treat their employees with respect. In the most simple ways, a supervisor can treat you with respect as a person and a colleague, by how they interact with you on a daily basis.

Related: How To Gain Respect at Work

5. They offer recognition of your work

If your supervisor uses your hard work as an example to other employees, that's a positive sign they believe your performance and actions are on track with the objective of the task at hand. This usually sends the message internally that you are doing things right.

Related: 8 Ways To Lead by Example in the Workplace

6. They give you specialized tasks

If you often work on the same type of thing and your manager gives you unusual or specialized tasks, that shows that they trust you to do things even if they aren't part of your regular duties. It also shows that they are trying to challenge you, or perhaps broaden the types of things you have been trained to handle.

7. Other coworkers share compliments

If your coworkers notice that your supervisor likes you, that can be a good sign. Perhaps they have observed your increased responsibilities or have been in conversations with your manager, and they've decided it's a positive interaction in your favor.

8. They share similar interests

If you find that your supervisor shares your career priorities as well as some interests outside of work, it's likely that they have a common bond with you. In general, people enjoy the company of others when they can relate to each other on certain topics or pastimes, and this is true of managers as well. If the two of you value the same types of things, it's probable your supervisor likes you.

9. They ask you to help other employees

If your manager asks you to help other employees, that signals they see you as a leader. Most managers will ask an employee they can trust whose accomplishments are notable when they need someone to train other employees. So if your supervisor asks you to help a coworker, they see you as someone they can trust to share the right information and collaborate well.

Related: How To Help a New Coworker in Your Workplace

10. They provide constructive criticism

If your manager offers constructive advice, it's likely they value your work ethic and want to help you grow as an employee. A supervisor who provides clear and effective commentary is showing they believe in you and want to give you the knowledge you need to succeed.

Related: Q&A: How To Handle Criticism at Work

11. They check in with you

If your manager checks on you from time to time, but not excessively, it's likely they enjoy interacting with you and want to make sure you're okay. They are probably checking in to make it clear they want to support you as you work.

12. They value your opinion

If your supervisor asks for your opinion on work matters, then they are showing they see you as a valuable colleague. It also gives you an opportunity to affect your workplace positively through your opinion, which is a great way to show you can be a leader.

Related: Valuing Employees: 15 Ways To Make Them Feel Valued

13. They don't overpraise your work

If your manager doesn't praise you for everything you do, it's likely they trust you don't need that reassurance because they have faith you know what you're doing. Many times, managers will heavily praise employees who they think need extra help or added confidence, so if your manager isn't praising you excessively, it's likely your supervisor believes you know what you're doing.

14. They let you make decisions

If your manager lets you make decisions throughout your workday, then it is probable they feel you are trustworthy. It also allows your supervisor to see how you handle the power to make decisions at work as a test of how good of a leader you might be.

Related: Decision-Making Methods for the Workplace

15. Your responsibilities grow

If you find your responsibilities are growing as time goes on, it's likely your manager likes and trusts you. Managers rarely give underperforming employees additional responsibilities, especially if they aren't sure those employees can handle the additional responsibilities. By giving you more responsibilities over time, your supervisor is telling you they believe you can handle those responsibilities.