While speaking your mind and being brutally honest may seem like a noble trait under many circumstances, saying the wrong thing can make you appear lazy, disrespectful and immature. Never say these 10 things if you want to maintain a good work relationship with your boss.
I can’t
No supervisor wants to hear an employee is incapable of doing something. Even if you feel that 1) you don’t have the time, 2) you don’t have the right skills, or 3) you would be stepping on someone else’s toes, there are better options.
If you’re plate is already too full, negotiate a timeline that will work into your already busy schedule. If the request is for something outside your wheelhouse, look on it as a growth opportunity and ask a co-worker for assistance. Finally, if the assignment normally belongs to someone else, try to find out why you’re being asked to complete it. It might be an oversight or a great opportunity because your coworker is on vacation.
That’s the way we’ve always done it
Unless your goal is to develop a reputation as being inflexible, keep an open mind. In fact, one of the best ways to make yourself invaluable to your supervisor is to think of new and better ways of doing the same old thing. Improve processes, procedures or systems, and you might improve your chances of receiving a promotion.
It’s not my fault
One of the easiest ways to have someone think it is your fault is by denying it. Unless you want to sound like a five-year-old child, never tell the boss something isn’t your fault, even if it’s the truth.
In the January 20, 2010 Hart Research Associates report “Raising the Bar: Employers’ Views on College Learning in Wake of the Economic Downturn,” researchers looked at skills desired by employers. The top three intellectual and practical skills according to the survey were communication (89%), critical thinking and analytical reasoning (81%) and the ability to analyze and solve complex problems (75%). Instead of deflecting responsibility toward someone else, show off your ability to resolve problems by offering solutions.
I don’t have the time
Nine times out of ten, you probably won’t have the time to take on another project. However, there are better ways of expressing yourself.
Instead, ask additional questions about the breadth of the assignment, the time line allocated, and the availability of help. With a few more details from your supervisor, you may find you can build time into your busy day or offer an alternative solution that is just as effective.
It’s not my job
When you work for a company, your job is more than just your job description. It is whatever the boss needs you to do. However, if you feel someone else is truly better suited to handle an assignment, it is quite all right to make the suggestion. Just be prepared to have to do it anyway.
You don’t pay me enough
Regardless of the motivation or whether or not this is true, say this and you’ll be earning even less when they kick you out the door.
You’re wrong
Just because this statement is true, doesn’t mean it is the right thing to say. Instead, soften the blow by gently pointing out a different point of view.
The article, “How to tell your boss he’s wrong,” from Microsoft Business suggests that if you “offer your boss valuable feedback, he'll come to value you as a trusted guide." This is especially true if you prevent your supervisor from embarrassing himself because he followed the wrong course of action. It’s all a matter of how you present the information.
Did I forget to mention…?
If you’ve been in the workforce for any length of time, you probably are aware that a primary tenet of most bosses is “no surprises.” They want to be kept in the loop at all times. That includes delivering bad news.
As noted in the June 26, 2009 Suite 101 article “How to Break Bad News to the Boss: Sharing Unpleasant Information with a Supervisor,” make sure you’re prepared to deliver the news and do it in private place. Better to deliver it when there is still time to act than to tell the boss after the fact.
I have a hangover (or I partied too hard last night)
Really? You want to divulge this kind of personal information at work?
In the Careerbuilder.com article, “ 13 things to keep to yourself at work,” writer Anthony Balderama suggests keeping “the Rubick’s cube that is your personal life” under wrap. Naturally, the reason behind this is to avoid looking bad in the eyes of your supervisor as well as your coworkers.
Take this job and shove it
You may be unhappy in your current role or with your current employer. Your boss may be a real jerk leaving you no recourse except to quit. Well, you are not alone. In fact, according to the December 29, 2010 article, “Survey: Most want to quit in 2011,” 84% of employees planned to look for a new job this year.
However, leaving under less than good circumstances can be the biggest mistake in your career. Don’t ever burn bridges that lead to the job references you’ll need in the future.
The power of workplace diplomacy and etiquette should never be underestimated. If you want to stay on your supervisor’s good side, never say these 10 things to your boss.
Deborah S. Hildebrand - Deborah S. Hildebrand is a freelance writer & HR consultant with 20+ years in human resources & a Bachelor's degree in Business.
