Five Things Never to Say to Your Boss

Everyone has a boss. Even if you “work for yourself”, you are still an employee to your client or customer.

A big part of maintaining the boss-employee relationship is to never allow a boss to think you dislike your work, are incapable of doing it, or – worse – consider it beneath you.

Many statements heard commonly around the work-place violate these basic rules. Here are five examples heard in work-places all the time. They may seem ordinary, even harmless, but try reading them from your boss’s point of view and you will see why it is smart to never allow these five sentences to pass your lips:

Example 1: “That’s not my job”. You know what? A lot of bosses are simple souls who think your job is to do what is asked of you. So even if you are assigned a task that is, indeed, not your job, refrain from saying so. Instead, try to find out why your boss is assigning you this task – there may be a valid reason. If you believe that doing the task is not such a good idea (that is, from the company perspective) why not try explaining, and suggest how it could be better done by someone else. This may work depending on the boss. In any case, remember that doing what is asked of you, even tasks outside your job description, is good for your career. Remember this also: bosses do not assign tasks to those they do not have confidence in.

Example 2: “It is not my problem.” When people say something is not their problem it makes them look like they don’t care. This does not endear them to anybody, especially the boss. If a problem is brewing and you have nothing constructive to say, it is better to say nothing at all. Even better is to try and figure out a way to help. Because, ultimately, a problem in the workplace is, in fact, everyone’s problem. We are all in it together.

Example 3: “It’s not my fault.” This is yet another four words to avoid. Human nature is weird. Claiming that something is not our fault often has the result of making people suspect it is. Besides, what is the real issue here? It is that something went wrong and needs to be fixed. That is what people should be thinking about – not who is to blame. Think of a solution and make positive recommendation.

Example 4: “I can only do one thing at a time.” This sounds like you are complaining about being over-worked. But remember, complaining you are over-worked will not make your boss feel sorry for you or go easier on you. On the contrary, a boss will think one or both of the following:

1. you resent your job; and/or
2. you are not up to your job

Nowadays, everybody feels pressured and over-worked, especially in urban work places. So what is with you? There is a better way to turn your “work-pressure” into an asset. Simply lighten your mood by cracking funny jokes. This has a way of making you seem like you are happiest when working hardest.

Example 5: “It can’t be done.” Saying something cannot be done is like waving a red flag in a boss’s eyes. Even if the thing being suggested truly is impossible, saying so can only make you look ineffectual or incapable. Better to pause and ask yourself some basic questions such as: why is the boss asking me to do whatever it is? What is the problem that needs to be solved? What is the goal? Search for practical ways of solving that problem or reaching that goal. That is what bosses really want. Most of them do not expect the impossible. And truth be told, impossibility does not exist – if we intelligently apply our mind to the issue on hand.

Last words: When in doubt, remember that silence is golden.

(credit Dan McCarthy)