10 Most Important Things you should Never say to Your Boss
01. “That's impossible.”
When your
boss gives an assignment to you or a goal to your team, don't dismiss
it as unattainable. Ideally you should find a way to meet your
supervisor's expectations, but if something truly is not feasible,
suggest an alternative. Example: “I like your plan for moving up the
newsletter's schedule, but I'm not sure how we can make that happen this
month with the other assignments we have. Is it OK if I postpone the
XYZ deadline for a week to make the newsletter a priority?” 09 more after the break...
02. “But we've always done it this way.”
Just because you're comfortable with a particular way of doing things
doesn't mean it's the best way for your team or organization. Be open to
change. Sure, there will probably be an adjustment period with some
confusion and kinks, but once you've learned the new system, it should
be worth it.
03. “That's not my job.”
Your boss knows your team members, their responsibilities and their
skills. Trust that if the boss gives you an assignment, there's a good
reason for it. Maybe your co-worker has another high-priority
assignment, or maybe your boss thinks your skill set is better suited to
the task. Impress your supervisor with your can-do attitude. If you're
feeling swamped with assignments, address the issue this way instead: “I
can do that, but I also have this assignment … How would you like me to
prioritize everything?”
04. “I can't stand ___” or “I refuse to work with ___.”
Be willing to work with everyone on your team. Otherwise, the boss may
see the problem as your bad attitude, not the other employee. When a
co-worker acts in a way that makes it difficult to work together, speak
with the person directly. If that doesn't resolve the issue, ask your
boss for advice. Example: “I've found that Carolyn has a hard time
meeting deadlines, which makes it difficult for me to do my job when we
work together. What do you suggest I do?” Note: If the issue is very
sensitive—such as if the person is sexually harassing you or making
racist comments—go to your boss about the problem immediately. Don't
wait until you're assigned to work closely together.
05. “Oops ... I should have asked, but I didn't want to bother you.”
Don't risk making a costly or time-consuming mistake just because
you're too intimidated to speak up and ask questions. If you don't have
enough information to complete an assignment well, ask follow-up
questions until you feel confident that you understand what's expected
of you. Your boss would much rather you take a bit more time on the
front end of an assignment than spend extra time cleaning up a mess
afterward.
06. “I figured you knew ...”
Nobody likes to be blindsided, so don't put your supervisor in that
position. Give your boss an opportunity to solve problems before taking
them to his or her boss or to HR.
07. “I'm taking off these days for vacation.”
By all means, you should use your vacation days. But don't assume that
you can take off whenever you want; request time off. Your plans may
coincide with another co-worker's or with a major deadline, and in
either case your boss may have to decline your request. Never commit to
travel plans without receiving your boss's OK first.
08. “Why haven't you accepted my friend request on Facebook?”
It's great to have a friendly relationship with your boss, but don't
kid yourself into thinking you're buddies. Keep your professional and
personal lives separate, and don't seek to connect to your supervisor on
social media platforms like Facebook (LinkedIn is an exception). Do you
really want your boss to see everything that goes up on your Wall
anyway? If your boss ignored your friend request, consider it a blessing
and don't mention it.
09. “I don't get paid enough for this.”
That kind of statement makes you sound like an entitled whiner, which
won't impress your boss and certainly won't make you a stronger
candidate for future promotions or raises. If you're feeling underpaid,
undervalued or dumped on, schedule a meeting with your supervisor to
talk about the issue calmly and respectfully. Have specific examples
prepared to support your point.
10. “If you don't____, then I'll quit.”
When your boss can't (or won't) give you what you ask for—whether it's a
promotion, a raise, an enviable assignment or anything else—he or she
knows that there's a chance you might seek another job. Stating that
outright will only lead to awkwardness between you and your supervisor
and may embarrass you later if you change your mind or are unable to
find a new job.
