7 Things You Should NEVER Say To Your Boss!
Creative Commons: DIVA AGENTUR
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are well aware of the state of the economy in this country. We’re in one of the deepest recessions in recent memory, people are hurting and so far, recovery has been slow. Unemployment figures announced recently do little to assuage that.
With those facts and figures swirling around in my head, I sat down for breakfast with a dear friend. Stacey Cohen is a small business owner; she founded and operates Co-Communications, a marketing a PR company with offices in Westchester, Connecticut and New York City.
Stacey and I have been friends since our kids were in the first grade; in other words, a long, long time. One of the things I’ve always admired about Stacey is her business acumen. Over the last decade or so I have watched as her business went from one person with a dream to its current staff of 15 and still growing. She’s had a lot of experience; not just in the marketing and PR realm, but also in managing people. So as we caught up on each other’s lives over coffee and croissants, I asked her about the things she absolutely hated to hear come out of an employee’s mouth.
Why is this important? Why should it matter to you? Because with the economy the way it is and recovery moving at such a slow pace, it makes more sense to make yourself a valuable employee in your current job than trying to find a new one.
So here are 7 things that will make your boss cringe. Have you said them before? Here’s why they should never be a part of your work vocabulary again.
What would you add to this list?
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She said...then he said...
Your boss is busy. Do not saddle him or her with minutia. Get in there, hit the critical points and get busy. And for heaven's sake don't go in with office politics. Handle it. photo credit: fdecomite
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I'm afraid to do that
At some point, we all have to do something we have never tried before. And yes, it's scary, even with adequate preparation. Do yourself a favor; keep your fear to yourself. Then put your head down and just do it. photo credit: fdecomite
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I can't
No. No, no, NEVER! Stacey Cohen believes this speaks volumes about someone's attitude. Don't say you can't before you've even tried. photo credit: fdecomite
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What's in it for me?
Remember that line in Jerry Maguire where the sports agent accuses Rod of being a "paycheck player", someone who's in it for the money? His point (and Stacey's too) is that you need to think big picture. It's not just about the money; there's value in a job well done. photo credit: fdecomite
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I wasn't expecting that...
If you weren't expecting that, it's because you didn't anticipate. Play it (and life) like a chess game. Think strategically. photo credit: fdecomite
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That job is beneath me
Oh.My. GOSH! Don't act like this and definitely don't ever say it. Learning can happen on every level of every job and in smaller operations, all hands on deck is more than a saying; it's a way of life. Retire your ego, roll up your sleeves and get busy. photo credit: fdecomite
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I have a problem
This is not to say you can't go to your boss with a problem but when you do, you should also bring in a couple of solutions. Go the extra mile and come up with some potential answers. photo credit: fdecomite
Yo! Nice to meet you! You can find out more about me on my blog, Good Enough Mother.
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Other posts by Rene:
The Marriage Meltdown: A Really Bad Week For Matrimony
Ask Rene: My Teens Hate Each Other!
10 Lessons I Learned From Being Fired And What You Can Learn Too
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Great advice if you are working in a large company. I am a boss at a small company though and my employees have said these things. Instead of assuming what these statements mean, I work with my employees to find out why they are feeling this way and find a solution. In fact, I’ve said sone of these too and my employees give me that same respect and support. The only word we have banished is “policy” because we do what makes sense in any given situation. It is more time and work, but leads to better results. Most companies, however, prefer the shorthand method of making decisions, so this advice is, unfortunately, necessary.