Trying to raise concerns to your boss is not an easy task. No matter how valid your points are, you risk accidentally offending them or appearing like a downer to the rest of the team. However, if you don’t approach your boss with your concerns, how will they improve or know something’s wrong with their idea?
How do you then voice your concerns without sounding negative? Fret not, as here are 5 easy steps you can follow to better raise concerns to your boss.
Prepare Your Points.
Before speaking your mind, ensure that the points you’re raising are valid and backed by evidence. This includes asking your co-workers if they’ve also experienced the same issues you wish to bring up to your boss. Or actively listening to your boss’ presentation to see if it has any faults that need to be addressed.
Doing this ensures you won’t embarrass yourself in front of your boss and co-workers. As well as come up with potential solutions to the problems you brought up. In addition, coming in prepared improves your confidence, which helps you be more clear and concise with your points.
Know the Right Timing to Bring Up Your Concerns.
Aside from preparing the points you’d like to raise to your boss, you should also seek to find the right opportunity to discuss them. Your boss won’t be able to listen well to you when they’re busy crunching a deadline, after all.
Instead of trying to raise concerns to your boss in the middle of a meeting, why not send them a private message? Aside from being more professional, doing this allows your boss to focus on what you have to say rather than other matters. Having a private conversation with them will also help you speak more openly about your thoughts than with a larger audience.
Be Mindful of Your Language.
It’s easy to let your feelings dictate your words when trying to raise concerns to your boss. However, that is no excuse for becoming unprofessional towards your boss. Remember, you’re here to offer feedback for improvement, not start an argument.
Avoid words like “wrong” and “I told you so” as it shows you’re trying to scold them. Instead, use collaborative words like “here’s where we can improve.” or “It’s good, but we can do better.” This helps soften the sting of your criticisms and motivates your boss to act on your recommendations.
Remain as Objective as Possible When Speaking to Your Boss.
Objectivity is an integral part of voicing your concerns to your boss. This means losing whatever bias or feelings you may have regarding the issue when talking to your boss. Focus on the facts on why your concern needs to be addressed and how you plan to solve them.
Aside from letting you deliver your concerns clearly, objectivity also helps generate discussion with your boss. This allows you to form a solution to your problems quickly and avoid further issues.
Don’t Forget to Follow Up.
If you’ve noticed your boss still hasn’t resolved the issue you raised, be sure to follow up with your boss. Of course, you don’t need to follow up if the problem was solved within your meeting with your boss. But if it’s been days and there’s still no action, or if the solution they did wasn’t enough, then it’s time for a follow up.
Of course, you don’t want to seem like you’re nagging your boss. However, you wouldn’t raise concerns to your boss if it’s not something serious, right? So why should you be afraid to remind your boss about them?
Silence Helps No One.
Part of being a good employee is possessing the courage to inform your boss of any concerns you have regarding their ideas or the company. However, it’s not easy to overcome your fear of rocking the boat or appearing like a killjoy to them and your other co-workers.
Fortunately, by following the 5 steps mentioned above, you will have an easier time the next time you raise your concerns to your boss.
