How to Criticize Your Boss Without Losing Your Job

How to Criticize Your Boss Without Losing Your JobFeedback, as any good professional understands, is critically important. Theres nothing like a little constructive criticism to put the fire under your tail feathers and help you to understand and grow past your own limitations. But it isnt just a one-way street. From time to time, it will be importanteven necessaryto give your babo a little feedback too. You should want the kind of employee/boss relationship where that is possibleand work to cultivate it. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here are a few strategies for when you need to offer a little good-natured criticism to your boss without offending him or her or risking your good rapport.1. Pick your moment.If your boss is in the middle of a particularly stressful project or a bad week, you might want to wait until shes not stomping around fuming with the shortest possible fuse. Let things die down a bit and pick a mora peaceful, low-k ey moment to broach the subject. But do make sure to do it face-to-face. Meeting in person is a much better way to make the kind of connection you need for this to work.2. Ask permission.Particularly if you have a mora formal relationship with your boss, or youre nervous about how to broach the subject, its always a good idea to ask first. A simple, Would you be willing to hear a different perspective on the situation? or Could I offer my two cents? will work wonders and set the conversation up nicely.3. Keep it light.In this and all office interactions, stay positive. If humor is in your wheelhouse, try a humorous tone if appropriate. Avoid profanity and offensive jokes though keep it professional. Be playful and as gracious and appreciative as possible. And try to limit your use of the word but. As in I really enjoy working with you but4. Back it up.Dont just assume your ideas are great and worth sharingbetter than your bosss. Support your ideas with facts about production or prod uctivity. And then make sure that your feedback will genuinely help the person. The more you can make it valuable to your boss, the better.5. Make it about you.You statements tend to make people extra defensive. Try to frame everything through your point of view. I notice this It affected me when And try not to generalize with words like always or never. Think about how an improved relationship would make you a better worker, and explain this, point-by-point, to your boss. If you frame it as for the good of the company, youre more likely to get a positive response.6. Go in with a game plan.Think through what youre going to say in advance. The more you plan it out, the better. And find a friend or family member to rehearse it with beforehand. The cooler and more prepared you are going in, the better it will go. If you storm in right on the heels of an annoying email interaction, youre bound to say something you will later regret.7. Know when to stop.Say what you have to say as quickl y, gracefully, and succinctly as you canthen stop. It can be hard, once you get started, to turn the faucet offparticularly if this is the first time youve tried giving feedback to your boss. But youll need to make sure to quit while youre ahead and give room for your boss to respond. And try to listen with an open mind The communication lines, at last, are open.