Your Attitude Is Showing: A Primer of Human Relations, Tenth Edition

Building a Vertical Working Relationship Is a Critical Element of Your Job

A vertical working relationship is the relationship between you and your immediate supervisor. If, as a regular employee, you have two or more supervisors, you will have two or more vertical relationships to maintain. Normally, you will have one immediate supervisor, as illustrated here.

In a small department consisting of one supervisor and three employees, each employee has a different vertical relationship with the same supervisor. This relationship is indicated by the line between each employee and the supervisor, often called the job relations line. If the relationship ...