What do you do if you have a Miscommunication Issue with your Boss
Succeeding in your chosen career requires a working environment with minimal stress. A stress factor experienced by many employees is miscommunication issues with their boss. Reasons for miscommunication include employees feeling intimidated by the boss, misunderstanding instructions, misunderstanding general communication and misinterpretting their boss’s body language. Once the miscommunication issue has occurred, how does the employeefix the problemto re-establish a work environment conducive to constructive production?
Begin fixing a communication issue by realizing the boss is human too. All bosses have work days when personal issues interrupt their train of thought. Become an ally with your boss.Speak with your bossabout the issue and try to get on the same page. Make sure to use a positive perspective rather than a defensive one when approaching your boss. This will help the conversation go smoothly and alleviate the stress you both are feeling. Let the boss know that you want to work together and not against the boss. Communicate with the boss until you understand the other's perspective. Work with your boss professionally to succeed and create an environment conducive to production.
Learn how to listen.Listening skillsare developed over time and take practice. Humans have a tendency to listen to tone, watch body language and read into conversations because of personal experiences and issues. Reading into a conversation causes many miscommunication issues. Work on listening skills by attending training sessions on communication.
Help prevent miscommunication by using the word ‘and’ rather than ‘but.’ When your boss asks you to do something say “Yes, and I think it may work better if we do….” Instead of “Yes, but I don’t think that’s the right way to do it.” The use of the word ‘and’ rather than ‘but’ shows the boss that you are willing to work on an issue rather than saying that you know better.
Acknowledge your boss’s leadership style. Try to understand your boss's way of leading. This may not always be easy due to the fact all bosses have not had leadership training nor know exactly how to lead. There is an art to leading.
Help your boss develop and maintain a comfortable work environment by going to work every day with a positive attitude. Model this behavior for the benefit of the boss and co-workers. A comfortable work environment promotes quality work and a stress free environment.
