Exactly 25 years ago, the film What Women Want with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt debuted. After a bathtub mishap with a hairdryer, Gibson’s character gains a unique ability: he can hear the private, unedited thoughts of every woman he meets. He leverages this newfound talent to advance his career and secure business successes.

Imagine the benefits of understanding the unspoken thoughts of our boss, especially those about us. While such skills remain fictional, there are numerous ways to discern your boss’s true perceptions of you, without needing to read minds. If you’re curious about your boss’s opinions, consider the following insights.

1. What does your boss talk about with you?

What your boss chooses to discuss with you provides key insights. When your boss talks about your future aspirations or personal development—not merely your role as an employee—it indicates a positive view. If they are invested in your growth, they likely believe you are capable of more significant contributions. Encouragement to pursue further education or attend industry events suggests they see potential for your advancement and are preparing you for greater roles. Queries about your personal dreams and long-term goals demonstrate an interest in your progression and objectives.

Conversely, if discussions revolve solely around their needs or your required tasks, it likely reflects a lack of personal interest in you, focusing merely on what you can deliver for them. Such bosses can suppress personal and professional growth, so they are best avoided.

2. How much does your boss ask for your opinion?

A boss who engages in discussion rather than one-sided communication indicates respect and trust. Seeking your opinion and input on various matters shows they value what you bring to the table. It signals that they see you as an important contributor rather than just another employee to manage, appreciating your insights and contributions.

A boss who never solicits your thoughts or feelings might assume they have all the answers, undervaluing your potential input. Those who value employees engage them by asking insightful questions. If the only inquiries relate to administrative details (such as timekeeping), it likely suggests your boss prioritizes attendance over the actual quality of your work.

3. Does your boss give you challenging work or new opportunities?

Does your boss ask you to take the lead on new or exciting opportunities? Does your boss ask you to do more complex or challenging things than what you’ve been doing? If so, your boss is probably interested in grooming you for the future, rather than being focused on maintaining the status quo. Bosses who see their people as highly capable of more will find opportunities to stretch them. If your boss isn’t doing this, it’s an indication that they don’t care if you stay in the same role for the foreseeable future, perhaps even years. Bosses who care about, believe in and trust their employees will always find opportunities to empower them. Bosses who don’t, won’t.

4. What happens when you make a mistake?

If your boss completely loses it when something goes wrong or is quick to show anger and frustration, it’s a sign that your boss expects you to be perfect and is highly concerned with how you both look to others. Bosses who see their people as long-term players and know their people are also human allow for a certain degree of missteps or failed experiments. Bosses who berate and criticize every small error or mistake don’t tend to value creativity, innovation and experimentation for the sake of learning. They’d rather hire people who follow suit and do things the way they’ve always been done rather than push the envelope and find new paths. Since erring is a normal part of the human condition, bosses who don’t allow for this are extremely difficult to work for.

5. How much say do you get?

Bosses who see their people as future colleagues or peers of themselves extend a considerable amount of latitude in how the work gets done. If your boss doesn’t let you make any of your own decisions and constantly wants you to ask for permission, it’s likely that they see you as inferior or beneath them. If your boss tells you not to ask permission or get their approval for every decision, it’s a sign that your boss sees you as a future version of themselves, an equal and they trust you. Great bosses allow their best people choices in how they lead or do their work.

6. How much recognition do you get?

If you can’t remember the last time your boss made time to give you a specific compliment on a job well done, that’s another bad sign. When bosses notice their people doing a stellar job, they acknowledge it. If your boss hasn’t recently told you they value and appreciate you, it’s probably because they don’t.

Looking for these six things in your interactions with your boss will tell you everything about how they see you and how likely it is that you’ll flourish and grow underneath them. If you can’t answer these questions in a positive way, it’s probably time you either directly ask your boss where you stand or find a new boss.