How to Talk to Your Boss
You can form meaningful friendships at work, but primarily you're there to get paid for the services you perform. Your boss's job is largely to ensure you perform the job you were hired to do. Still, you are not exempt from workplace issues and problems in your personal life, which if not addressed, can affect your work performance. Knowing how to speak with your boss on a day-to-day basis helps to strengthen your relationship with him and can make the both of you better employees.
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Instructions
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Take the time to learn your boss. When you're first hired, it takes a while to understand your boss -- what her concerns and goals are and what makes her tick as a human being. Pay attention to the verbal and nonverbal clues she gives. The longer you remain on the job, the more you will see different sides to her nature, which helps you to understand how to approach her when necessary.
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Realize that your boss is not your psychiatrist. Leave problems that do not affect your job at home and abandon trivial complaints. Your boss has to ensure that those who report to him are competently doing their jobs; he also might have problems of his own. Constant negativity adds to his stress.
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Give your boss information in the manner that suits her personality. For example, if she prefers face-to-face communication to email or phone, use that medium.
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Approach your boss calmly and with confidence and respect. Regardless of the subject matter, how you give your boss the information impacts how he views you. If you're upset over something significant that a coworker did to you, approaching your boss in an angry manner will cause him to think you have no self-control.
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Give solutions to problems you relay. For example, a dire situation at home requires you to take a few days off at the last minute and will likely result in a backlog of your work. Instead of only asking for what you need, offer viable solutions, such as working from home when possible.
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Respect your boss's opinions, and if necessary, disagree politely. You do not always have to agree with everything your boss says or asks you to do. Clearly and courteously let your boss know that you disagree. Sometimes, such as if the request is not unethical, it's better to do what your boss says even if you don't agree.
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Do not delay giving your boss bad news. The sooner you make your boss aware of a problem, the quicker solutions can be implemented.
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Maintain honesty and integrity, which builds trust. When your boss sees that she can rely on your words and actions, you become invaluable to her.
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Tips & Warnings
Regardless of how close you feel to your boss, always remember that he is your superior.
References
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