Access the essential membership for Modern Managers
Transcript
Narrator: Did they make an inappropriate joke? Did they not have your back when you needed them? Did they take credit for your work? Sometimes there's no escaping it. You need to raise a difficult topic with your boss, but how can you do it without jeopardizing your role?
Good managers want to be great managers. To do this, it's important that they get feedback as well as give it.
First of all prepare, you don't need to write a 30-page script but before you talk to your boss, make a list of the points you want to raise, get them straight in your mind so that they're coherent and clear with specific examples.
Avoid throwing around accusations, do this by using I statements to show that what you're saying is from your perspective. So instead of saying you were insensitive when, say I felt a little hurt when.
If you are worried about any repercussions or the issue is particularly sensitive, hold fast for the moment and get some advice from your HR team.
In a good working relationship, giving feedback to your manager should be no different than giving feedback to your team or colleagues. After you've raised and discussed any thorny topics, give them the good stuff too.
If your manager does things right, tell them. Positive feedback reinforces good behavior and can help to soften any of the difficult things that have come up.
