: About to walk into your supervisor’s office for a chat? Make the most of the conversation by giving our simple guidelines a try.
Can we talk? You may have asked this question of your boss on one
occasion or another. Depending on the relationship you share with her or
him, communicating with your boss can be easy, or difficult. Just as
importantly, it can be potentially harmful to your career if things are
mis-communicated.
Not to worry though, there are some easy guidelines you might want to
use to help ensure that conversing with your boss is most effective.
Here are 7 office conversation tips:
Office Conversation Tip #1: Be Prepared. Be organized. Have
all of your documentation in clearly labeled folders. It will be easier
to keep your thoughts clear. You will also look professional which
increases your credibility in your meeting
Office Conversation Tip #2: Don't beat around the bush. It's
a cliché, but it can seriously get in the way of good communication. If
you want to know why the boss doesn't like your proposal, request
specific feedback from her. There's no reason to guess, open
communication should be priority one.
Office Conversation Tip #3: Be a good listener. Talking is a
multi-directional endeavor. You also need to clearly hear, understand
and process what the other person is saying. Listen carefully to your
boss; do not tune him out, even if you disagree. And keep good eye
contact so that the boss knows you're listening.
Office Conversation Tip #4: Skip an email now and then.
Relying on electronic communication all the time may be very time-efficient,
but it's not always the best substitute for a face-to-face meeting. Once
in a while, poke your head into your boss's office to see if it's a good
time for her to chat, rather than always opting for the less-personal
email option.
Office Conversation Tip #5: Keep your cool, always. Similar
to speaking or negotiating with anyone in any aspect of your life
whether it's your boss or the annoying clerk at the car rental counter
you'll likely have a better chance of getting what you want if you
remain calm, civil and nice.
Office Conversation Tip #6: Offer a compliment now and then.
Everyone likes to be patted on the back, even your boss. Avoid gushing,
or being complimentary too often, because the effect of your gesture
will be compromised. But throw in a little praise once in a while and
you might be surprised to find that the boss could be more receptive to
your ideas.
Office Conversation Tip #7: Depart your conversation with a sure
conclusion. Before ending your chat with your boss, make certain
that each of you understands the next steps, strategies, etc. that you
have agreed upon. You want be sure that both of you are on the same page
going forward.
