TEN Things Never to Say to Your Boss

Follow @USERNAME

 If
you have a boss, you're probably looking for ways to impress him. Your boss has
the most direct influence over your work life, and as far as your ability to
advance, his power over your career is second only to your own. And, deep down,
your boss isn't that different from anyone else: he loves good news and he
loves when things are going well. That's why telling your boss the right things
will put a smile on his face every time. Notice that everything on our list is
work related -- don't be that guy and resort to brown-nosing or “Gee boss,
that's a nice tie.”  That's beneath you.
Keep it about the work and read on for 10 ways to keep your boss smiling throughout
the work week.

“Think before you
speak” is always a good policy -- and at work it's even more important. Saying
the wrong thing to your boss can do serious damage to your career -- and some
of the things bosses don't like to hear may surprise you. I checked in with
some managers and came up with this list of ten phrases they strongly dislike
-- and I’ll tell you what you should say instead:

1.
        "I need a raise."

Never enter salary
negotiations talking about what you need -- because of rising costs or a new
expense, for instance. Your employer doesn't care about your financial
problems. However, management probably does want to reward success and keep
high-performing employees satisfied. A raise request should always be supported
by evidence of what you've achieved for the company -- along with information
about what people with your responsibilities typically earn.

2.         “That just isn’t possible.”

Always speak to your
boss in terms of what can be done. For instance, rather than saying “We can’t
get this done by Friday,” say “We could definitely get this done by Monday, or
if we brought in some freelance help, we could meet the Friday deadline.” When
you talk to your boss, think in terms of solving problems for him, not in terms
of putting problems on his plate.

3.
        “I can’t stand working with ____.”

Complaining about a
coworker's personality usually reflects more poorly on you than on the
coworker. Don’t make these kinds of conflicts your boss’s problem. Of course,
management is interested in problems that jeopardize the company's ability to
function. If you have to speak to HR about a problem such as a colleague's
threatening, illegal or unethical behavior, keep your tone professional and the
focus on work -- not personal issues. 

4.
        “I partied too hard last night --
I'm so hung over!”

Buck up and get through
the day with some ibuprofen, extra undereye concealer and coffee. But don’t
share the sordid details of your night in the club with your boss. Even if you
have a friendly relationship, he’s just as likely to react with (unspoken)
disdain as sympathy. Maintaining a solid veneer of professionalism will pay off
when it's time to discuss promotions. 

5.
        “But I emailed you about that last
week.”

Alerting your boss to a
problem via email doesn't absolve you of all responsibility for it. Bosses hate
the "out of my-outbox, out of my mind" attitude. Keep tabs on all
critical issues you know about -- and keep checking in until you hear a firm
"You don't need to worry about that anymore."

6.
        “It’s 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 “Let’s get to the bottom of this” or “What can we
do to make it right?” is much more effective than saying “It’s not my fault.”

7.
        "I don't know.”

If your boss asks you a
question you can’t answer, the correct response is not "I don't
know." But instead you can say, "I'll find out right away."

8.         “But we've always done it this
way."

You may find yourself
with a new boss who wants to try new things -- and the best way to present
yourself as a workplace relic is to meet change with a "we do it this way
because this is the way we do it" attitude. When a brainstorming session
takes place, be part of it and stay open to new ideas. If you have concerns
about a new idea's feasibility, say "I think for this to work, we will
have to…" Don't kill new ideas with negativity.

9.         “Let me set you up with...”

Avoid the urge to play
matchmaker for your single boss. The potential risk far outweighs any potential
benefit. In modern workplaces, hierarchical structures are often less rigid,
and bosses will often end up in semi social situations with their direct
reports. Smart workers will draw the line at "oversharing" --
definitely something to keep in mind if you're connecting to your company's
managers on social networks like Facebook.

10.       “That’s not my job.”

Your boss knows your
team members, their responsibilities and their skills. Trust that if the boss
gives you an assignment, there’s a good reason for it. Maybe your co-worker has
another high-priority assignment, or maybe your boss thinks your skill set is
better suited to the task. Impress your supervisor with your can-do attitude.
If you’re feeling swamped with assignments, address the issue this way instead:
“I can do that, but I also have this assignment … How would you like me to
prioritize everything?”

What
other phrases do you avoid saying to your boss, would you mind sharing it with
us?