7 sentences you should never say to your boss

There are certain things all bosses dread to hear. “I lost the
account,” “There’s a big mistake,” and “I think the building is on
fire,” would all qualify, but I’m talking about sentences that may
seem innocuous to you, but can be a big deal to your boss.
Consider each of these sentences — and how you can turn them
around to stay on your boss’ good side.
1. “Are you sure you want to do that…?”
You don’t want to come across as teaching your
boss something he or she already knows. Tread
carefully when schooling your boss on anything. If
you feel you have to say something, approach the
topic with the assumption that your boss may have
overlooked or forgotten something — not that he
doesn’t know how to do his job.
2. “Did you see what so-and-so just did? She is just
so hard to work with!”
Save the interpersonal drama for your friends and
family members, because your boss doesn’t want
to hear about it. He certainly doesn’t want you to
be a tattle-tale, and he doesn’t want to know about
how much you dislike your coworkers. Unless
someone you work with has made a major
violation of company policy, or a big mistake in
their work, keep your personal grievances, well,
personal.
3. “I didn’t want to bother you in case the problem
worked itself out…”
Chances are, if you’re saying this sentence,
something has gone horribly wrong, and your boss
didn’t see it coming, because you didn’t give her the
heads up. Most bosses would much rather know
about potential problems before they happen than
get blind-sided and have to play catch up. When
alerting your boss to a potential problem, be sure to
include what you’re doing to prevent it.
4. “If you don’t do this, I’m going to quit!”
Ultimatums are a bad idea in pretty much every
situation, but especially when it comes to talking to
your boss. Are you sure you’re as irreplaceable as
you think you are? Besides the fact that it comes
off sounding juvenile, it might make your boss
choose the nuclear option and decide you’re not
worth the alternative. It’s fine to draw a line in your
mind — if you need to quit, you need to quit — but
don’t threaten.
5. “As a Millennial…” or “People in my generation…”
Yes, he gets it: you’re younger than he is. But
chances are, your boss doesn’t want to be
reminded of his age — or yours. Unless you’re
specifically asked your opinion as a younger
person, don’t bring up your age or generation. If
you’re suggesting a change, couch it in terms of
how it will benefit the company, not just the
Millennials.
6. “That can’t be done.”
If your boss wants something to be done, she
doesn’t want to hear that it can’t be done. Plus,
saying that something can’t be done is an easy
way out. Instead, focus on what you can do to
make it happen — research, experimentation,
brainstorming new ideas, and so on.
7. “I need a raise.”
To be clear, you should absolutely ask for a pay
rise when you feel you deserve one, but be careful
how you phrase your request. Nearly everyone
would like more money, so instead of saying you
“need” one, start by outlining your value to the
company, your accomplishments, and
responsibilities. Your goal should be making your
boss want to give you a raise!
These are some of my pet peeves, but I bet you have your own.
What sentences would you add to the list? I’d love to hear your
thoughts in the comments below.