“I’m too hungover to come in to work today,” Jeannie Assimos recalled a coworker telling his boss one time.
First, Don’t Get Too Comfortable
Ms. Assimos, who is head of content for Bay Area startup Way.com, told The Epoch Times that when it comes to reporting to a supervisor, “Practical and straightforward is best.”“Your boss, as cool as he or she may be, is running a business. Don’t ever forget that they will always make decisions in the business’s best interest first,” she said. “Don’t mistake the ‘family’ work vibe for a real family. I’ve seen too many people get overly comfortable around their boss and then be shocked when they were fired.”
“I remember overhearing a new coworker bragging to the boss about how much he could drink,” he told The Epoch Times. “He didn’t last very long.”
Mr. McCormick advised against bringing one’s personal life to the workplace or oversharing: “Don’t tell the boss what you did over the weekend. Did you hang out with friends, do something exciting, spend time with your family? None of that information should be shared because it is not relevant to work and the boss might not want to hear it. Too many people view the boss as their friend, but that is a recipe for disaster.”
When it comes to sharing opinions, Mr. McCormick has the same advice for both leaders and employees. “Don’t ever share your political or personal perspectives with your boss, even if they are similar,” he said. “This could limit your career advancement if your boss feels they cannot put you on a team or department where others have opposite beliefs.”
1. ‘It’s Not My Fault’
Jonathon Narvey, the CEO of Mind Meld PR in Vancouver, told The Epoch Times that he gained expertise in how to communicate because he “bounced around a fair bit, going from one job to another, sometimes after saying the wrong things to the boss.”He advised, “Don’t ever say, ‘It’s not my fault.’ Never minimize. Never defend. Always be accountable. Show that you recognize the problem and are proactive about recommending a solution.”
Mr. Cobo suggested that “instead of simply airing grievances, it’s important to present your concerns with evidence and offer potential solutions. This approach shows genuine concern and a willingness to address issues rather than just complaining.”
2. ‘I Think We’re All Trying Too Hard’
While you may have your own opinions about what tasks are important and how they should be approached, it’s best to keep any negative evaluations to yourself. Mr. Cobo gave an example, describing a time when he was working overtime on a critical project and a young junior marketer walked into the meeting room with his supervisor.“He was feeling particularly confident and told the supervisor, ‘I think we’re all trying too hard. We should just go with the flow and take our time,’” Mr. Cobo related. “The room went silent. You could hear a pin drop. This wasn’t the time for leisurely work; we were up against a deadline. Needless to say, it was not received kindly.”
3. ‘I’ll Quit If …’
Being successful in the workplace calls for displaying maturity. “Using threats like “I'll quit if…” to get what you want can often have negative consequences,” Mr. Cobo cautioned. “Instead, engaging in professional discussions about career expectations and plans is far more likely to yield productive outcomes.”4. ‘That’s Not My Job’
“Never say ‘That’s not my job,’” Ms. Assimos said. “The key to success in any career is adaptability. Job descriptions change, and company goals change. If you are rigid about what you will and will not do, you will not last. Managers and bosses want team players who are flexible to the needs of the business.”She added, “If you don’t know the answer to something asked by the boss, reply with ‘Let me research this and get back to you asap.’ Most managers appreciate the honesty and actions to take steps to learn.” Or, say “‘I will give it my focus and best effort.’”
“You will be asked to do things you haven’t done before in a work environment. All your manager wants you to do is try, be flexible, and be honest,” she said.
5. ‘I Assumed You Would Already Know’
Ms. Assimos also said that an employee should never let the boss be surprised by an issue. “Don’t ever utter, ‘I assumed you would already know.’ Communicating is vital to the success of any business. If you see an issue starting to arise, flag it and research why it is happening as well as possible ways to solve it. Keeping quiet about problems or issues is a massive source of frustration for bosses.”Learn your boss’s communication style and expectations. “Every boss is different … Some bosses love a lot of communication daily. Some prefer a weekly email update. Learn what works best for them and adapt to that,” Ms. Assimos said.
Good Communication: A Two-Way Street
Be aware of how your messages, verbal or written, may be evaluated. “I think the best way to communicate is face-to-face so you can accurately gauge your boss’s mood,” Mr. McCormick said. “For any critical messages, I would communicate in person or via the phone and then follow up with an e-mail.”
Finally, Mr. McCormick said, “Make all of your correspondences as brief as possible.”
Mr. Cobo pointed out that communication is a two-way street. “It’s not just about speaking, but also about listening. It can enhance or deteriorate relationships at work, your performance, and ultimately, your career trajectory.”
Being conscientious with your words is the first step to great working relationships and a successful career.
