Has your boss been complimenting you more frequently' Have they been texting you on the weekend' Do they laugh at everyjoke you telleven the lame ones'If you're nodding to all of the above, then they just might have feelings for you."It can be difficult to tell whether someone has a crush on you or if they're just being extremely nice,so I caution anyone in this dilemma to tread very carefully, as misinterpreting intentions could be embarrassing for both parties, and even career-damaging," saysMichael Kerr, an internationalbusiness speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage."But you should lookfor the signsthat it may be afull-on crush "because that could end up having extremely negative implications on your work," he says, and you'll want to do something about it before things getreallyawkward.Here are 18 signs your boss may havea crush:1. You have a gut feelingMost people will give their managers the benefit of the doubt at first, but sometimes there's an inner voice telling you that something between you two feels awkward, says LynnTaylor, a national-workplace expert andleadership coachand the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant."She says: "Gut instincts aren't whims. They're your subconscious on steroids. It's putting hundreds of facts together, with the ultimate result being an emotion or physical feelingin this case, of discomfort or irritation. If you're unhappy or angry about the situation, you're right."2. They flirt"Carefully observe how the boss treats other colleagues before leaping to any conclusions," says Kerr. "They may be a very effusive, gregarious person who simply behaves that way with everyone because they're a people pleaser. And even if your boss flirts with you from time to time, again, consider how they are with other colleaguesthey may be a naturally flirtatious person who really means no harm."And also consider your own actions. Are they flirting with you simply because you've been a little flirtatious with them' Be very cautious when interpreting someone else's intentions behind their actions.And if you determine that you're the only one they flirt with, and it's not a result of your behavior toward them, then this is a strong sign they're crushing on you.3.They regularly schedule private or late-night meetingsIf you're occasionally asked to stay beyond normal business hours and have a legitimate joint project to work on, that's one thing, says Taylor."But if you start seeing a pattern of being singled out, and the meetings are always running lateor there are too many unnecessary private meetingsthen your boss may be trying to go beyond a professional scope," she says.Keep in mind that if you're uncomfortable with these actions and you continue to comply with these requests, things will get worse.4.They call or text you for no particular reasonMost managers have a heavy workload, so when they take the time just to call you randomly without a real reason to talk, then it can be a sign that they are thinking about you a bit more than they should be, says Kerr.5. Their body language is playful or sensualCheck their body language and eye contact. If you catch them stealing glances at you often or sustaining eye contact longer than is comfortable for you, then this could be a sign, Kerr says.6. They give you preferential treatmentYes, it could be simply because they respect you and trust your abilities, but if it crosses over into clear favoritismfor example, they offer you opportunities that you know in your heart you don't deservethen it might be a sign then they like you a little too much, Kerr says.Taylor agrees. "Love struck bosses may give you better projects; more mentoring time than your peers; take you to more lunches; offer you more flexible hours or other perks; be lax about your mistakes; or give you other special treatment. Sounds great' Well, unfortunately, favoritism in the workplace may not only lead to a disgruntled staffit can result in a hostile work environment claim by other employees, and may lead to a court case."7. They confide in youDoes your boss share work andpersonal confidences with you that you know they wouldn't share with anyone else in your office'"Yes, they may be doing this because they trust you, but it may also be because they want to deepen the relationship and sharing confidences is a proven way to do that," says Kerr.8. You get overblown promises from themA boss who has a romantic agenda may intrigue you with a seemingly exaggerated view of your great future at the company, Taylor warns."It may be difficult to discern if your manager is just as encouraging with everyone," she says. "But when your job outlook seems suspiciously rosy, take pause ... and consider all the possible signs to get a realistic sense of their motivations."9. They invite you to spend time together outside of workIt might just be a simple coffee after work, but if this happens in addition to other signs, then this could be a red flag, says Kerr.10. They suddenly change their appearance at workNew outfits, new haircuts, and more attention to detail might be because they're hoping to catch someone's eye at work, Kerr says. And it might be yours.11.They value your opinion more than anyone else'sAgain, this could just be that they value and trust you as an employeebut if they ask you for input on personal issues, such as clothing choices, or even dating issues, then this might be a sign."Asking you for advice on their own love life could be totally innocent, but it might also be a ploy to suss out how you really feel about them," Kerr warns.12. They frequently offer compliments beyond work issuesIf compliments are coming your way nonstop but they have nothing to do with work or start to sound inappropriate, then your boss may have more than a friendly affinity for you, Taylor says: "While sexual harassment training has exploded over the years, managers can still become lax. So watch for this sign."Compliments about your appearance, fashion sense, or amazing personality are especially strong indicators, adds Kerr: "Throwaway lines such as, 'Anyone would be lucky to have you,'may be signs they have a crush on you."If these types of comments make you feel uncomfortable, speak to your HR department immediately.13. They give you giftsIf everyone in the company receives a motivational mug on Valentine's Day that says, "We love our employees" embedded in a big read heart, that's wonderful. But it is not so endearing if your flirtatious boss secretly places Sweethearts candies on your desk, says Taylor.14. They make physical contactSome people are just very touchy-feelybut if you think that your boss goes out of his or her way to touch your knee or arm, or hugs you as often as possible, then they may behinting at something.Again, if this makes you uncomfortable, then you should tell someone.15. They laugh a little too easily, and a little too long, at your jokesOverly effusive laughter can sometimes be a great "crush barometer," Kerr says.16. They remember everything you do or sayThis may feel a bit creepy.If your boss seems to remembereverythingyou tell themwhen they're normally more forgetfulthis could be a sign they are paying especially close attention to you."People remember way more details about interactions with someone they have a crush on, partially because they've likely been obsessing about those details, looking for signs that you're interested," writes Beca Grimm for Bustle. "Remember last week when you were complaining about your new standing desk making your heels sore' You might not. But when someone else remembers, and sends along to a link for non-fatigue rugs and offers a discount through their office account' They're into you."17. The blush whenever you're aroundDoes their face visibly change the moment you walk in the room' Do they get rosy cheeks or begin to perspire' There's a good chance this is happening because they're physically attracted to you.18. They treat you like theydon't like youOf course, this could mean they simply don'tlike you. But if your boss playfully teases or picks on you, it could be their way of flirting ... or a way to hide their admiration.If the signs are all there, you'll want be decisive and tread carefully.To find out how to deal with a boss who may have a crush on you, click here.SEE ALSO:21 signs your boss secretly hates youDON'T MISS:What to do when you realize your boss secretly has a crush on youJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Unorthodox questions you may have to answer if you want to work at Chipotle
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