Every workplace has its own culture, its own unique atmosphere. Certain offices value “Company Happy Hour,” creativity, and team ping-pong matches to encourage productivity. Others require a suit and tie, firm handshakes, and extreme formality. But no matter how your office ecosystem functions, certain phrases are sure to sour your relationship with your management. It’s important to remember that regardless of your rapport with the company’s executives, respect and dedication are key. Do your best to avoid repeating these 3 things smart employees never say to their boss. Try a positive spin instead. Your job could depend on it!
INSTEAD OF: “I just can’t work with him!”
TRY: “We have very different working styles, and we’re learning how to work together.”
Stop. Before you start complaining, remember who you’re interacting with. While it’s important to give feedback on your projects and tasks, it should be strictly limited to facts. Talking badly about a colleague to a manager puts you in a bad light, and makes you appear immature.
Rather than venting or speaking in generalities – like “He’s stubborn! She doesn’t do any work!” – do your best to remain objective, and discuss only work-related issues that may be hindering your performance, like his difficulty to make deadlines, or her reluctance to communicate. If there’s a deeper conflict that can’t be resolved between you and your coworker, take the problem to HR, not your senior manager.
INSTEAD OF: “I don’t have time for that – I’m already too busy.”
TRY: “I’m currently working on these two projects with Alex and Carol. How do you recommend that I prioritize this new task?”
Today’s employees rarely have one static role in a company anymore. Rather, job descriptions are fluid, based on skills and needs rather than the title on one’s business card. And while you may be expected to spend 70 percent of your time focusing on project A, and 30 percent of your time on project B, sometimes your boss may throw project C into your lap, leaving you with … 150 percent worth of projects.
Even if this seems completely unfeasible, just take a deep breath and make a quick to-do list. Evaluate which projects can be quickly tackled – maybe a task can be taken care of by email or over a coffee in the break room. Once you’ve acknowledged what needs to be done, you can ask your supervisor about the priority for your newest assignment. Clarity is absolutely key here, and as long as you make an effort to communicate and understand her expectations for you, you can and will take care of that ever-growing stack of assignments on your desk!
INSTEAD OF: “I didn’t know if it would be a problem, so I waited to let you know.”
TRY: “I wanted to tell you that we had a small issue with the Project A. I plan on calling our partners today to take care of it, I’ll keep you informed.”
If you become aware of a potential problem with a deal, assignment, project, then it’s in your best interest to develop an action plan as fast as possible, and keep your boss in the loop. A lot of timid employees are too shy to approach their managers when they hit a snag, and they wait until it’s almost too late to salvage. Don’t sit idly by and watch your projects fall apart – communicate how you plan to react, and stay cool under pressure. Avoid negativity when speaking with your boss. Instead, show off your problem-solving skills!
The way you communicate to your managers is performance-defining. Without the right amount of tact, you stand the chance of ruining your work reputation. Professionalism is important, no matter what kind of relationship you may have, so keep these tips in mind next time you need to communicate with other senior managers. Remember: be direct, be courteous, and be smart!
