By | Kat Boogaard | www.themuse.com
Let’s face it—openly disagreeing with someone in a way that’s constructive and non-condescending can be tough. But, when that someone is your boss? Things suddenly get a whole lot trickier.
You’re not quite seeing eye-to-eye with your supervisor on something, and you feel strongly enough about your opinion that you need to speak your mind and voice your concerns. However, ideally you’d like to do that in a way that doesn’t make you look like a prideful know-it-all who’s challenging his or her authority—resulting in you being shown the door and booted off the team.
Sounds like a true conundrum, doesn’t it? I won’t deny it, disagreeing with someone—particularly a person who ranks above you in the office hierarchy—can require some careful consideration and serious tact. But, it’s not impossible! Here’s what you need to know to oppose your boss, without losing your job.
1. Carefully Consider the Time and Place
Sometimes it’s not only about what you say—it’s about when and where you say it. So, this is something you need to put some serious thought into before launching into this kind of conversation.
Are you in a team meeting where everyone is sharing suggestions and ideas with your manager? That could be a perfect opportunity to speak up, without it seeming aggressive, condescending, or accusatory. Would your boss feel embarrassed or ganged up on if you voiced your opinion in a large group setting? Then you’re better off setting up a separate, one-on-one meeting to talk it out.