15 Things Not to Say to Your Boss

8/8/2019 15 Things Not to Say to Your Boss

1/3

15 Things Not to Say to Your Boss

Think before you speak is always a good policy, and in the workplace

the maxim could be further refined to think before you blurt out

something to your boss that could hurt your career. We checked inwith some bosses, and came up with this list of 15 phrases bosses

definitely dont want to hear:

1. Im only doing this job for the money.

No boss wants to hear that your sole motivation for showing up is your

paycheck. She may know that money is your motivation, and you may

know she knows, but its still better left unsaid.

2. Im broke/in debt/one step away from bankruptcy.

Your financial woes are not your bosss concern. Period.

3. Im going to quit after I (fill in the blank).

No matter how noble your future plans are -- you may be saving to

start your own company or go to grad school, for example -- its

usually best to keep those plans to yourself or to refer to them only

vaguely. If your boss knows there is a definite end date to your

employment, she may start to shop around for your replacementbefore you are ready to leave.

4. I partied a little too hard last night.

Buck up and get through the day with some ibuprofen, extra undereye

concealer and coffee. But dont share the sordid details of your night

on the town with your boss. Hes just as likely to react with

(unspoken) disdain as sympathy.

5. Its not my fault.

Are you a whiny 8-year-old or a take-charge professional? Assume

responsibility and take steps to fix a problem that you did, in fact,

create. And if you are being wrongly blamed for a problem, saying

lets get to the bottom of this or what can we do to make it right?

is much more effective than saying its not my fault.


2/3

6. Im bored/this job is boring.

Didnt your mother ever tell you that only boring people get bored? If

youre constantly twiddling your thumbs, ask for extra work and be as

specific as you can. And if youre busy but think your assigned tasks

are less-than-stimulating, start strategizing about how you can get the

job you want, either within your company or elsewhere.

7. My job is too easy.

Sure, you may think a monkey could do your job. But dont give your

boss any ideas -- your company could probably pay a monkey less

than it pays you.

8. I cant work with so and so. I hate him.

Involving your boss in personality conflicts should always be your last

resort. So unless you are being threatened, scapegoated, encouraged

to participate in unethical behavior, or your colleague or customer is

engaged in other egregious workplace conduct, try to work it out

between yourselves first.

9. I cant do that because of my other job. In your bosss mind,

a second job is not a valid excuse for why you cant stay late, work

extra hours or finish a project on time. She may question your

priorities, and rightly so.

10. Oh my God! How did you do this job before the

Internet/text messaging/Skype?

Although not a cardinal workplace sin, making your boss feel old will

not score you any points.

11. Sigh. Grimace. Eye roll Wrenching noises

Actions can speak louder than words. A poker face and silence are

golden when youre displeased with your boss.

12. Do it yourself!

No need for explanation. Just never say this. Ever.


3/3

13. Its always been done this way.

You dont want to gain a reputation as an inflexible dinosaur, so keep

an open mind about how you do your work. And if youre convinced

that a new way of doing things is going to harm your company,

present your case without using because thats the way weve always

done it to support your position.

14. Let me set you up with...

Avoid the urge to play matchmaker for your single boss. The potential

benefit is far outweighed by the potential risk. For that matter, any

socializing with your boss (even something as simple as being friendly

to him on Face book) can cause you to share too much information, soconsider limiting social interactions entirely.

15. Sorry, I must have drifted off. Cmon, wake up! If youre

caught with your eyes closed, feign deep concentration rather than

admit you were dozing.

Documents

15 Things Not to Say to Your Boss