TEN WRONG THINGS TO SAY TO YOUR BOSS

TEN WRONG THINGS TO SAY TO YOUR BOSS

·         Saying these wrong things to your boss can damage your career.

1. "Can you write that down for me?"
·         Writing notes while discussing a project is great, but never ask your boss to do it for you.

2. "I just booked plane tickets for next month."
·         Never plan your holidays without clearing it with your boss.
·         There might be a major project due that week, or the boss might have approved holidays of others and therefore needs you around.

3. "It’s my bad day."
·         When you make a mistake, take responsibility for it, figure out how to fix it, and show that you understand its seriousness.
·         Responses like "it’s my bad day" sound cavalier and show that you don't take work seriously.
·         Don't use it for anything other than the most minor mistake.

4. "I can't work with him."
·         Refusing to work with a colleague is an extreme statement and may mark you as difficult.
·         Instead, try something like, "I find it hard to work well with A because of X and Y reasons. How can I make it go more smoothly?"

5. "I don't know what you'd do without me."
·         No one is irreplaceable, even the head of your company.
·         Such statements will make a lot of managers want to show you that you're wrong.

6. "Do this, or I quit."
·         Whether you're asking for a raise or requesting a day off, don't threaten to quit if you don't get your way.
·         If you don't get what you want, you can always think it over and decide to quit later.
·         But if you use it as a negotiating threat, you'll poison the relationship.

7. "I have another offer. Can you match it?"
·         Using another job offer for bargaining with your current employer may be tempting, but it often ends badly.
·         First, you may be told to take the other offer - even if you don't really want it - and then you'll have to follow it through and quit.
·         Second, even if your employer does match the offer, you may land in the first lay-off list if the company needs to make cutbacks.
·         If you want a raise, negotiate it on your own merits without the threat of another job offer.

8. "What's the big deal?"
·         Statements like this are dismissive and disrespectful.
·         If you genuinely don't understand what the real issue is, say something like, "Can you help me understand how you're seeing this?"

9. "I can't do X because I need to do Y."
·         Don't say you can't do something your manager is asking of you.
·         Instead, if there's a conflict with another work, explain the conflict and ask his priority.

10. "That's not my job."
·         Protesting that something isn't in your job description is a good way to lose the support of your boss.
·         Job descriptions aren't comprehensive, and most people end up doing work that doesn't fall squarely within those.
·         You should make yourself more valuable to your employer, not less.