Tag: communication

Have you ever been working peacefully at your desk when suddenly your manager showed up to discuss an office concern?

Before you knew it, your manager was walking away, leaving sparks in the air and frustration in his wake. What happened?

Most likely, it was a communication problem.

Learning how to communicate effectively with your manager will not only enable you to keep your job, but also advance your career.

It’s not always what you know that determines how far you can progress in a job.

Very often your employment success is based upon how well you get along with other people in the office, especially your boss.

It’s quite possible that the lack of communication might not be entirely your fault.

Perhaps your manager needs to brush up on their communication skills, too.

However, doing whatever you can to communicate better will help you get your point across more effectively and make you an indispensable member of the team.

These ideas may prove beneficial in communicating effectively with your boss:

Is a lack of trust between you and your manager part of the problem?

• Build trust by working hard to do your job right the first time.
• Speak with them in a pleasant manner, and always speak well of them.
• Even when you disagree with your manager, try to do so without being defensive.

If your manager feels you’re not pulling your weight on a project, don’t let them walk all over you.

• Be respectful as you stand up for yourself.
• Don’t allow disagreements to turn into shouting matches or arguments.
• Realize they’re trying to do their job just as much as you’re trying to do yours.
• Instead of taking their criticism personally, listen to what they’re saying and respond effectively.

Personality Clash. Even if the two of you simply can’t get along personally, that doesn’t mean all is lost.

Start at a point of respect for the position and communicate professionally and effectively, leaving personal issues behind.

Simple Miscommunication. Is it possible there’s merely miscommunication between the two of you?

Maybe you haven’t fully understood what your manager was trying to tell you or your manager completely missed what you were trying to say.

If you both put forth the effort to try to understand each other, the communication between the two of you can only improve.

Nonverbal Signals. An important part of your message in communicating is not what you say, but how you say it – the intensity, inflection, and tone of voice. Your body language also conveys what’s being said as much as the words.

• If your arms are crossed over your chest when speaking, it shows that your mind is made up and there’s no changing it.
•  Establish and maintain eye contact to signal that you’re interested in their opinion.

• Work on keeping an even tone of voice and staying in a neutral position while you’re talking with your manager. 

Using your nonverbal signals correctly could transform your relationship with your manager from being confrontational into a great working relationship!

Small improvements in how you speak and act toward your manager could make a big difference in the way the two of you get along.

Practice these ideas to more effectively communicate with your manager, improve your working relationship, and enjoy greater success at work!

When was the last time you talked to your manager?

How can communicating well help make your work lighter?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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Good communication allows many life situations to run smoothly.

However, there are certain relationships that deserve extra attention, such as the relationship you have with your boss.

You and your boss have drastically different roles, and when each of you fulfills these roles with a hard working and understanding attitude, you’ll both feel fulfilled.

Get To Know Your Boss

As in all personal and professional relationships, it’s important to understand how others communicate.

Everyone has their own set of likes and dislikes, and everyone has their own unique personality types and communication styles.

Once you understand their preferences, you can adjust your style and methods of communication to best suit their needs. 

Understand Your Relationship

It’s important to develop a good business relationship with your boss.

Find out what he expects and what his goals for the business are, that way you can both be working toward the same goal.

The following tips can help you further improve your communication with your boss:

1. Avoid being too It’s important to be friendly, but only to a certain extent. You’re not true friends with your boss.

While it may seem like a good idea at first, it can lead to some uncomfortable situations.

Your boss might have trouble giving you negative feedback, or your co-workers may develop jealousy.

2. Schedule meetings with your boss. Your boss may or may not be scheduling regular meetings with you.

Regardless of this, take the initiative to schedule time with your boss if you feel the need.

Your boss will know that you’re serious about developing your business relationship and that you really care about your job and the company.

3. Problem solving. Find out if you can help your manager with any problems that need attention.

While you don’t want to step on any toes, your boss will surely appreciate you taking the initiative.

Doing so will really give you the chance to stand out.

4. Maintain patience.

Perhaps you would’ve done things differently than your boss or you strongly feel that one of his decisions won’t turn out right.

Develop the wisdom to know if you should keep your mouth shut and go with the flow, or if you should politely speak up.

5. Shift your perspective.

You can improve your communication with your boss and feel less frustrated just by putting yourself in their shoes.

Imagine what everything is like for them; they likely have more burdens and pressures on their shoulders than you realized.

Be Prepared 

Even if you’re not quite sure what to say all the time, as long as you prepared and honest in your communication, your boss will surely notice.

So if you have to reflect and write down your thoughts ahead of time, so be it. That level of preparation will benefit you in the long run.

With any relationship, good communication skills are a huge benefit.

Strive to work on strengthening these skills every day and it will help your career to flourish.

In the end, your positive attitude and willingness to understand others will help you forge stronger, more permanent bonds.

How can communicating with your boss have an impact on your work?

How can you work more efficiently because of this?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!