JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – How employees communicate with their supervisors can impact how they are seen by their bosses, according to Kevin Traynor, division director for Robert Half Finance & Accounting.
There are some things that employees should avoid saying to their boss.
Traynor said that it is important for employees to show initiative and have a proactive approach to challenges.
"Problem solving is a big piece of taking more off of your bosses plate than putting on it," Traynor said. "Relying on your boss to make every decision isn't exactly going to make them trust you in those critical decision making scenarios."
With mid-year reviews coming up with many workers, Traynor said that taking initiative and having effective communication could really work in your favor.
"The manager wants to see that you can problem solve on your own," Traynor said. "Keep it professional. The first step is to try to find a way to solve that on your own."
Some other things workers shouldn't say to their bosses:
- “What do you think I should do?”
- “John is being a real jerk right now. I don’t want to work with him.”
- “I’m bored.”
- “I probably should have told you this sooner, but ….”
- “I don’t know.”
- “I don’t want to go to the … “ (potluck, baby shower, company picnic, team celebration)
- “I’m giving notice. I’ve accepted a job with another company.”
When approaching a performance review, creating a concrete action plan that outlines objectives for the coming year can make a big difference.
"Take a look back at what your year-end review covered, what your goals were and seeing what you have accomplished to this point and communicate those to your boss," Traynor said. "Then create an action plan for the next six months."
Most employees want to have a productive, harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship with their boss, even if they may have differences between them. Here are some tips for 'managing' your manager:
- Communicate.
- Check your progress.
- Look at the big picture.
- Learn to adapt.