Saying the wrong thing to your boss can do serious damage to your career -- and some of the things bosses don't like to hear may surprise you. We checked in with some managers and came up with this list of nine phrases they strongly dislike -- and we'll tell you what you should say instead:
1. "I need a raise."
Never enter salary negotiations talking about what you need; a raise request should always be supported by evidence of what you've achieved for the company.
2. “That just isn’t possible.”
Always speak to your boss in terms of what can be done.
3. “I can’t stand working with ____.”
Complaining about a coworker's personality usually reflects more poorly on you than on the coworker. Don’t make these kinds of conflicts your boss’s problem.
4. “I partied too hard last night -- I'm so hung over!”Buck up and get through the day with some ibuprofen, extra under-eye concealer and coffee. But don’t share the sordid details of your night on the town with your boss.
5. “But I emailed you about that last week.”
Alerting your boss to a problem via email doesn't absolve you of all responsibility for it. Bosses hate the "out of my outbox, out of my mind" attitude.
6. “It’s not my fault.”Are you a whiny 8-year-old or a take-charge professional? Assume responsibility and take steps to fix a problem that you did, in fact, create.
7. "I don't know.”
If your boss asks you a question you can’t answer, the correct response is not "I don't know." It's "I'll find out right away."
8. “But we've always done it this way."
You may find yourself with a new boos who wants to try new things -- and the best way to present yourself as a workplace relic is to meet change with a "we do it this way because this is the way we do it" attitude.
9. “Let me set you up with...”
Avoid the urge to play matchmaker for your single boss. The potential risk far outweighs any potential benefit.
