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Ten Helpful
Things to Say to Your Boss
All material on
Your Office Coach is copyrighted to Marie G. McIntyre. All rights
reserved.
May be reproduced
with copyright and attribution to
www.yourofficecoach.com.
1.
“Did you hear about . . .?”
Bosses need information
and value people who share it. Because managers make many decisions and
deal with lots of people, they need to stay up-to-date with both
business developments and changes in the political climate.
2.
“Here’s something I really appreciate about
you.”
Managers get lots of
complaints, but very few compliments. Unless you work for Attila the
Hun, your boss probably has some positive qualities, so express sincere
appreciation from time to time. The key word is “sincere” – being
appreciative is not the same as sucking up.
3.
“What are your most important goals this
year?”
Although people are
usually clear about their own work goals, they often don’t know much
about their manager’s objectives. If you know what your boss is working
towards, then you can spot opportunities to be helpful.
4.
“I’d like to talk about priorities.”
A boss is someone who
can help you prioritize. When you’re swamped with work, consider
getting your manager's view of the highest priority tasks. Even if
you’re not stressed out, it’s still good to know what’s important to
your boss.
5.
“I’ve got an idea!”
Most managers like to
hear new ideas and approaches. Unless your boss is completely wedded to
the same old way of doing things, share your thoughts about how to
improve operations, customer service, or the work environment.
6.
“How am I doing? What could I improve?”
Many bosses practice
“psychic management” – that is, they have opinions about employee
performance, but fail to share those thoughts. Initiating an occasional
feedback discussion will let you know what your manager is thinking.
7.
“We might have a potential problem.”
Because they’re closer
to the work, employees often spot impending trouble before managers do.
Giving your boss a heads up about potential pitfalls and problems will
make you a highly valued employee.
8.
“I’d like your opinion.”
Even if you don’t
really need your manager’s opinion, you might consider asking for it.
Many bosses like to share their ideas and perspectives and enjoy
brainstorming discussions.
9.
“I’ve got some bad news.”
Never, never withhold
negative news from your boss. If you try to suppress it, you’ll only be
in bigger trouble when it finally comes out. Always try to present some
possible solutions along with the problem.
10.
“Want to go to lunch?”
Having lunch with your
manager gives you a chance to talk about something beside work and get
to know each other a little better. It’s a well-known fact that sharing
a meal tends to promote positive feelings.
Copyright Marie G.
McIntyre, 2006. All rights reserved. May be reproduced with copyright
and attribution to
www.yourofficecoach.com .
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