8 sentences that drive the boss crazy

Publish date 03 September 2013
8 sentences that drive the boss crazy image

It's hard enough to be a boss without your employees saying things that confuse everything. And if you are the servant who has a boss over you, stop before any of these sentences come out of your mouth. For bosses, we offer advice on how to teach your team to refrain from such statements.

1. How exactly do you expect me to do this?

The job of the boss is to make sure that everyone on the team goes in the same direction and works for common goals. And if the employee is not a novice in need of training, it is his own job to decide how he will approach his task.

The boss's best answer: "I don't care how, the important thing is to do it."

2. The idea is mine, so I want all the credit for it.

Good ideas are key, but there are also two for a lev. When an employee throws an idea at his boss and the rest of the team and everyone agrees to implement it, it becomes common property.

The boss's best answer: "If you want us to do it, we'll all have to do our best!"

3. I will try to finish this on time.

When bosses coordinate the actions of many people, they need to know what will happen and when. When you add the words "maybe" to the promise to try, good planning becomes impossible.

The boss's best response: "Do it. Or don't do it. There is no room for experimentation. ”

4. You should view this 300-page document.

Such requests are disrespectful because no boss - or rather no one who does his job - has time to embroider a 300-page document. Just as bosses try to clear the way for their employees to make their work easier, so the team must respect the time of its leader.

The boss's best answer: "Make me a one-page synopsis of the most important points."

5. Would you call them on my behalf?

This is an example of "delegation up", that is, when an employee is charged with a difficult task and, instead of clenching his teeth and finishing it, tries to hit the boss. This not only wastes the leader's time, but also encourages the helplessness of the employee.

The boss's best answer: "No, it's your job."

6. Wow, I forgot to tell you that.

The most important rule in the employee-boss relationship is "no surprises". As long as the boss does not "shoot at the messenger", it is the responsibility of the subordinate to report the difficulties long before they turn into unpleasant surprises.

The boss's best response: "Your annual assessment will suffer if this happens again."

7. I just have to let off steam ...

It may be an emotional relief for the employee to complain about problems that have no solution, but the boss is there to solve them and move the team's strategy ... rather than being a psychoanalyst to his subordinate.

The boss's best response: "Okay, but let's focus on what we need to do."

8. Are you sure this is the right solution?

Objections and discussions are made before a decision is made. When it is accepted, attempts to rethink or challenge it are a waste of effort that would be more useful in trying to implement the decision.

The boss's best answer: "Yes."

 

Source: manager.bg