How to Confront Your Boss (Nicely, Of Course) - The Muse

How to Confront Your Boss (Nicely, Of Course) - The MuseHow to Confront Your Boss (Nicely, Of Course) So, you need to confront your anfhrer. Are your palms getting sweaty at the thought?You arent alone. Needing to assert yourself to your manager- ideally, in a way that doesnt make you come off like a pushy know-it-all- is a tricky thing. You already have the basics covered. You know you should double-check your facts, try to problem-solve yourself, and get your ducks in a row before you stick your neck out and potentially damage your relationship with your supervisor.But, youve already done all of that, and theres no getting around this fact You absolutely need to have that dreaded (and hopefully not heated) conversation with your boss.Now youre met with the even tougher challenge of figuring out exactly what you should say. Fortunately, Im here to help. Here are three common scenarios when youll need to stand your ground with your superior- as well as how to get that conversation ro lling.Ah, that awkward moment when you know youre right and that your boss is completely wrong.Perhaps your manager keeps citing an incorrect statistic or stubbornly maintains that his approach to a specific project is the best way to go. But, you? You firmly disagree. Youre completely confident that youre in the right here. Youre eager to sway him over to your way of thinking (you know, the right way), without coming off as condescending or cocky. I Thought That Same Thing, ButOne of the best ways to stick to your guns without majorly bruising your boss selbst? By grouping yourself in with him. A phrase like this one demonstrates sympathy by making it clear that you had that same thought process, but eventually went another way when you uncovered an important piece of information- which you should share at this point in time. Even if it is a little white lie, its a great way to assert yourself in a way thats still supportive and cooperative. I Can Show You Where Im Getting This Ans werIf you have facts on your side, theres nothing wrong with opening your supervisors eyes to what is leading you to feel the way you do. When youre standing firm that you have the right answer in this situation, walk your boss through exactly how you arrived at that conclusion. Hell have a tough time arguing with solid proof. You have way to much work on your plate and are spread way too thin, meaning you need to loop your boss in on the fact that youre feeling overworked so that she can hopefully help you reach a more realistic workload.But, youre afraid that the whole exchange will just make you look like a complainer who cant get anything done. Have no fear- thats exactly why these two phrases are so helpful. Im Trying to Prioritize My TasksYou want to make it clear that you arent trying to shirk responsibilities altogether. Instead, youre attempting to ensure that you have the necessary time and energy for the things that your supervisor views as priorities.A phrase like this o ne is great, as it can segue into a request for help to sort through your existing to-dos and zone in on the most important ones. It turns the conversation into a collaborative effort to order your workload, rather than a major complaining session. Because Project Is Demanding So Much of My Time and AttentionIf youre worried about presenting yourself like a good-for-nothing, lazy employee, its a smart strategy to direct your boss attention to something major that youre working on. When theres a larger project thats demanding the majority of your resources, point that out to your manager so that you two can have a conversation about any less-pressing tasks that could be delegated or eliminated for now. You have a deadline looming over your head. The only problem? Youre stuck at a standstill while you wait on something that you need from your superior.Cringe, right? Needing to manage up can be a delicate situation to cope with. You need your boss to hold up his end of the deal. But, y ou also dont want to seem like youre telling him what to do. I Know You Have a Lot on Your PlateOne of the best methods for broaching this subject in a gentle way is to start by recognizing how busy your manager is. After youve acknowledged his packed schedule, you can ask when you can expect to receive that deliverable youre waiting for.I know, it can make you feel like a bit of a brownnoser. But, if youre concerned about coming off like a pesky micromanager, its a great way to segue into the conversation without pointing fingers and assigning blame. Do You Think Ill Still Be Able to Have This Project Completed By Date?Because leaders are often juggling numerous different things at once, its easy for them to miss the forest for the trees. They dont realize how their delay could impact the overall assignment.When your boss is really lagging behind, use a question like this one to remind her of the deadline for your entire project- rather than just her piece of the puzzle. Whether it was promised to a client by a specific date or you have other members in the organization waiting on its completion, nudging your boss with the firm deadline (rather than a wishy-washy end date of when youd hoped shed be finished) will hopefully give her a push in the right direction. Needing to confront your boss is usually enough to make your stomach do flips and your mouth go dry. But, chances are, youre going to need to do it every now and then.Fortunately, there are a few phrases you can use to approach that conversation in a way that presents you as poised and put-together- rather than pushy and patronizing.When you find yourself in one of the above situations? Give these a try and prepare for a productive discussion (no tears, screaming, or shaky knees required).