1. I can’t / it’s impossible
Any company needs employees who are able to handle assignments. Especially if they are asked to do something along the profile, and not bite the elbow or wear pants over their heads. Therefore, a quick answer about the impossibility of completing the task only speaks of a reluctance to work.
What to replace
Some tasks can indeed be difficult to accomplish or can be implemented with dire consequences. Therefore, listen carefully to the assignment, and then return with arguments why it is impossible to complete it, what can be done in this direction and what the consequences may be.
2. This is not my job description
Whatever you mean, your boss is likely to hear only about your unwillingness to develop. Even creative work turns into a routine over time, so it should be a joy for an experienced employee to change boring duties for new ones. Moreover, this is what will help you in the future to apply for positions with a higher salary.
What to replace
If you plan to give up a task not out of laziness, but because you are busy, explain the situation and discuss to whom you can delegate some of the current affairs in order to free up time for new achievements.
3. And what will I get for it?
As long as we are not talking about processing, bidding is rarely appropriate. You are unlikely to be sent to unload trucks if you are a manager. And for completing current tasks, you already receive a salary.
What to replace
The issue of compensation should be raised when you are overworking or your list of responsibilities has not changed, but expanded. But for a conversation about a salary increase, you need to prepare arguments that prove your effectiveness.
4. You are wrong
Yes, poking your boss into a mistake is very tempting. Especially in public: let everyone see that you should be in his place. The only problem is that he is already in office, and probably deservedly so. And, in general, it is common for a person to make mistakes, even if he is a boss. So you will not achieve your goal, and the leader may turn out to be vindictive.
What to replace
Refer to authoritative sources. For example, you might ask if the boss is using fresh data because the quarterly report has a different figure. Point out the mistake with concern for the common cause, not with the challenge.
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5. I don’t know
If you are not in a class in high school, no one expects you to remember everything . When asking a question, you are instructed to figure out the answer to it, and not a memory test at all.
What to replace
If it takes time to find an answer, ask how quickly you need to provide data. Then take a break to find out the information you need.
6. I will try / I will try
The time when you could try and try without any problems ended at the graduation ceremony. Now results are expected from you. It seems that the phrase “I’ll try” leaves you with a way to escape. But if you then come and say that you tried it, but you didn’t succeed, it will not end well.
What to replace
Agree with your boss that as you complete a new task, you will meet with him and ask questions about which way to go next. This will help you stay on course and let the whole team down.
7. Or I will quit
After this phrase, you should immediately quit , because otherwise it is not clear why you are uttering it at all. After the presentation of ultimatums, negotiations usually do not take place.
What to replace
If the conditions are incompatible with life, start looking for a new job. In the event that difficulties can still be dealt with, discuss with your superiors what can be changed in a non-ultimative manner.
8. It’s not my fault
Shifting responsibility onto someone else is a dubious strategy, especially if you are responsible for the outcome of the task. A good boss, at a meeting with his management, takes the blame for the department’s mistakes: he did not keep track of and did not control it.
What to replace
In case of an error, admit it and draw conclusions.
9. I cannot work with …
There are problems that need to be addressed by management or the HR department. For example, when it comes to harassment . But this does not apply to personal dislike and mismatch of temperaments. The boss is not a kindergarten teacher, he cannot put the offender in a corner.
What to replace
There may be one reason for the complaint: the person does not work well, which makes the whole company suffer. And this, as a rule, can be confirmed by facts. You should have a list of problems and a list of possible solutions. And you shouldn’t insert the “dismiss” clause in it. If the situation is serious, the boss will draw his own conclusions.
10. We did not do this before
Tradition is great. But in any business, it is better to look for new ways to complete tasks faster and more efficiently.
What to replace
When leadership promises problems, assess the risks and share them with your boss. At the same time, do not forget about point number 4: do not poke his nose into a mistake.
What phrases at work do you try to avoid?
