[dagw]

Remember that one step up from you, your manager is just another employee trying to please his manager. So try to understand what your manager's manager needs from your manager and focus on what you can do to help him deliver that. Make your manager feel like you're on his team, supporting him with whatever unreasonable demands his manager is placing on him.

Another point is to try to understand where demands are actually coming from. If your manager is placing 'unreasonable' demands on you, is it entirely his idea or is it because his bosses boss is placing unreasonable demands on his boss. Knowing this obviously won't make it easier to deal with those demands, but it does make it easier to put together and effective counterargument when you know whom you're actually arguing with. The most effective argument to make for why you cannot have the database migration done by the end of June is heavily dependent on who is actually demanding it be done by the end June and why it's so important to them.

[skyisblue]

Agreed. Help your manager succeed and they in turn will help you.

[scalesolved]

I've done this many times and I would say it's only reciprocated around 50% of the time. It's more nuanced than helping them succeed and expecting them to help you.

[koonsolo]

Or even better, help your managers manager to succeed, 'dispite' your manager. That way you can get your managers position. Saw this happen multiple times.

Welcome to the corporate world.