Steps to Take If You Disagree with Your Boss and Need to Tell Them
Posted July 11th, 2017
At some point in your career, you’re practically guaranteed to disagree with your manager. Often, it’s easy to become emotionally invested in your position, but letting your anger or frustration come out isn’t likely to solve the issue. If you feel the problem needs addressing, there are steps you can take to handle the situation professionally. Here’s how:
Get to the Root of the Issue
Once you’re upset, it can be hard to separate your emotions from the situation. However, before you do anything, you need to figure out exactly why you disagree with your manager’s position. Focus on the facts at hand and identify what about the scenario is affecting you in a negative way. Often, this means thoroughly understanding how your job is being affected by the decision and what is troublesome about it.
Set Up a Meeting
At no time should you broach the subject in the heat of the moment, or in the open. Instead, disagreements should be addressed privately, and this means scheduling some time to sit down with your boss and discuss the issue. This gives you an opportunity to be heard, and them a chance to respond, it a situation that doesn’t automatically affect the team or larger workplace. It also gives you an opportunity to assess your position and address it calmly at a later time.
Stick to the Facts
Once the meeting begins, you need to cover the facts. Explain why you thought it was important to have the conversation and outline your concerns without getting emotional. Keep a clear head and articulate why you’re concerned the decision will have a negative impact on your ability to manage your work.
Listen to Their Response
After you’ve outlined your thoughts, it’s time to listen to what they have to say. Often, your manager will have information that wasn’t provided to you, and it may explain why certain steps had to be taken. It also gives you a chance to get a better understanding of their perspective.
As they speak to their side of things, resist the urge to interject. Instead, let them have the floor and see if you can gain insight into the decision.
Accept the Decision
After you’ve both spoken to your sides, and possibly had some additional discussion, you need to be prepared to accept the final decision, no matter what that may be. It’s possible they’ll see your perspective and can make some changes to help. However, it is also possible nothing will change depending on the greater need.
Regardless of the outcome, know that you had a chance to be heard. Then, accept the decision. Often, your boss has final say, so you’ll need to cope with the situation to the best of your ability. If that idea is intolerable, then it may be wise to look for other opportunities, allowing you to remove yourself from the situation entirely.
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