Top 10 Things You Should Never Tell Your Boss

Granted, there are numerous programs out there promoting the fact that there is no such thing as a dumb or stupid question. However, this statement is mostly applicable in educational settings and surely not the workplace. In spite of the fact that most people can say ridiculous things at times, if you consider yourself a professional and you want to be taken seriously by your manager, you will be doing yourself a huge favor by learning how to refrain from saying certain things to your boss. While the following list is not exhaustive, rest assured that it includes the top things an employee should never tell his manager.

1. This issue is not your problem

For starters, it is important to note that your manager already knows that the situation does not have anything to do with you. However, when he is mentioning it, that means that he needs the assistance of someone capable of assuming responsibility (partially or fully) over the matter. That someone is you! Therefore, giving an answer such as this is not your problem will leave him with the impression that you are simply unreliable and unwilling to assist with things outside your duty roster.

2. The designated task if not in your job description

Although a certain chore your boss may ask you to perform is not listed in your job description, work duties are usually not respected ad litteram. Refusing to resolve an issue simply because it is not your job suggests that you are not thinking out of the box. If you are commonly doing things such as browsing the net or chatting with your friends during work hours, both of which are not listed as your work responsibilities, I’m sure you can help your boss with something out of the ordinary as well.

3. The chore at hand is impossible

When a manager hears an employee say a certain task is impossible, he does not perceive it as “the level of difficulty is out of your league”, but rather that you are indifferent and/or unwilling to put in any effort to get things done. Not only is it not useful to mention this things, but it also reveals a lack of a proactive attitude, an element all bosses look for in their employees.

4. Your salary doesn’t match the difficulty of your job

While you can complain about your finances to one of your co-workers or friends, the truth is that you should never say this to your boss. First of all, whining about a poor pay is perceived as a bad attitude and can even indicate that you do not want to follow orders. In addition, once you mention it to your boss, you should be prepared for the standard retorts that nobody enjoys hearing, such as ” if you really hate it/are unsatisfied here, why don’t you quit?”.

5. Sighing

Even if you don’t use words, certain expressions are sometimes enough to irritating the interlocutor. Face it, even you get annoyed when you ask somebody for help with a certain task and you get a sigh in return. The bottom line is that sighing is and always will be perceived as a passive aggressive response and rather frustrating gesture. Moreover, the ambiguity of sighing leaves the response open to interpretations.

6. You really don’t have time for the task he/she just gave you

If your manager asks you to do a chore and your response is that you don’t really have time for this, then he will consider that you are not in the mood to perform that chore. Instead of saying that you are on a tight schedule, a better approach consist of discussing about the best way to prioritize your tasks with your boss.

7. You simply can’t stand to work with X

In the eventuality that you need to work on a project with a person you do not enjoy, then being direct with your boss about how you feel about that co-worker is contraindicated. If you simply cannot hold it in and the words just marched out of your mouth, then you can save the day by asking your boss for advice on how you can manage the workload so that you can deliver the project on time.

8. Suggesting you are over-qualified for the job

In spite of the fact that you feel you are over-qualified for your current job, the last thing you want to do is mention this to your boss. Irrespective of how you choose to get the job done – do it yourself or delegate it – since you are at work, all that matters is that the chore is finished on time. Otherwise, the main message you are transmitting is the exact opposite of what you meant, namely that you do not have the necessary skills to handle the project. In addition, for your manager, suggesting that you are overqualified means that you don’t want to do that job and you are unwilling to follow orders, so you are offering him an excuse to fire you.

9. Your way of doing things is the only correct way to do it

Ironically, the only constant in life remains the fact that everything is constantly changing. Therefore, when you boss ask you – or the team – to resolve an issue using a new method, don’t start arguing that you have always done things in a certain way. Have you stopped to consider that you are probably not seeing the big picture and are most likely unaware of the reasons why your managers asked for that new procedure?

10. Gossiping and snitching on your co-workers

Truth be told, nobody likes a snitch and that includes your manager. If you are looking to impress him, your best approach consists of focusing on doing your tasks (and other duties that are not listed in your job description) as best as you can. In regards to trying to befriend your boss by telling him various gossips about your co-workers, you should know that the corporate karma is real and will most certainly come back to haunt you.