Of course there is no way to read your bosses mind, but it is possible to remain one step ahead. Learn as much as you can about the business and the role your boss places within the company. Read the corporate website, read the website of its competitors, read trade journals and current news.

By keeping up on the latest news you may:

• Predict conferences your boss may attend or speak at.
• Predict a trend in incoming new or changed projects.
• Be able to present important information to your manager on issues.

Sit down and talk with your manager and discuss what his/her preferences are on topics that may arise in the future. Discuss how he/she would like incoming phone calls taken. Is there anyone or organisations that get priority? Ask and observe his/her likes and dislikes and you will be able to handle task without having to ask for assistance, and seamlessly complete any task assigned to you. Figure out what is important to your boss.

On a regular basis meet with your boss and discuss what is going on in the office to keep him/her apprised of any issues. In this meeting ask about projects that are coming up in the future. Take notes and be proactive on future projects. When one of these projects comes up take the initiative to have information on the project in advance.

If you can answer these questions about your boss you are on your way:

1. Do you know what he/she expects of you?
2. Can you read the mood your boss is in on any day?
3. Do you know the way your boss likes to communicate information?
4. Do you know the preferences your boss has in his/her work habits?
5. Do you know his/her personal preferences in the tasks and projects you do (travel, how documents are prepared, etc)?

After you have sat down and got to know your boss for awhile and can answer these questions, reading your boss's mind will be easier.