I just read an article, 28 Things You Should Never Say To Your Boss on Yahoo Finance. I am not sure about all 28 things listed in this article, but I do agree with some of these. Here is my personal top 10 list that you probably should not say to your boss. Or sometimes it may be understood.
- That’s not part of my job
- I don’t know
- How do I benefit from this
- Well, I did my best
- I’ll leave
- I just assumed that…
- At my last job we did it this way
- I don’t have a solution
- I can’t
- I am amazing
Being a developer is not an easy task these days. Every client is looking for quicker turnaround. Here is one of my Top 10 Things Every Developer Must Do.
When you don’t deliver a solution on time, there will be times when you would want to say one or more of these phrases to your boss. I’ve been a developer for my whole life. I’ve been there. I’ve done that. But in no way, you should be using any of the above listed phrases.
Note: This article assumes that you're working on a software project. You're a part of one of my team. If you tell me one of these lines, what I am thinking in my head :). Some points may apply outside of the project development.
Remember, the success of a company, or a project, or a team depends on the performance of the entire team, not just one member.
Team work wins
OK here is my personal interpretation of these phrases and what answer should you give. So be careful when you talk to your boss.
That’s not part of my job
What you’re telling me is that you’re not a team player. You also don’t want to take any responsibilities. You’re also looking for easy way out. A company is a group of people working together to achieve a common goal and you being a team player will not help it.
You should never use this language. If there was something out of your scope, you can easily say, I’ve been busy dealing with this problem and did not get a chance to look into yet. But I am on it. It’s in my high priority to do list.
A team win is more important than a personal century.
Software development is a team project and the goal is to get the job done. Does it matter if Sachin hits a century but India loses the match? To Sachin, it may matter. But to India? Probably not. Your goal should be to win the match, not a personal century.
I’ll leave
Ahh .. You never want to say this.
This is telling me that you’ve no interest being with the company and the project. I will fire you right away.
I was a developer once. When I started my first job, within 6-month of my career, I started managing this project and I started thinking, this project can’t survive without me. I went to my boss and put this one condition and he told me to leave. Trust me. Project will still be there. Only it will be you who will be replaced.
He is just not into you.
In my company I’ve seen couple of guys who have said this. This is a direct challenge and threat to your boss. You’re also challenging his authority. Unless you really want to leave, you do not want to say this. Your boss may agree with you for time being but in his head, he is probably looking for your replacement.
I don’t know
If you really don’t know something, you say nicely that you’ve not had a chance to look into it yet and you’re going to look at first thing you get a chance.
How do I benefit from this
This is telling me that you’re a selfish person and looking for your interest only. I would not want you in my company. A company is more than an individual, you.
My precious.
Well, I did my best
And? And what happened? This is telling me, you gave up.
You can’t just give up.
You can’t just give up. If you need more time, ask for it. If you need more resources, ask for it.
I just assumed that…
In my early career, one day my boss walked into my office and ask me for something. My reply started with, “I assumed….”. He
ASSUME = ASS + U + ME
That was the last day of my career, I used “I assumed..” in my phrases.
At my last job we did it this way
If you really want to piss your boss off, that’s how you start. No boss want to hear what and how did you do things at your last job.
Don’t talk about your past jobs.
I don’t have a solution
There will be times when you really don’t have a solution but you don’t need to announce it. If you really can’t solve something, you better bring a valid reason for it and explain it in a reasonable matter to your boss.
The best way you can deal with this is, I am still working on it and will continue to do so until I figure something out.
I can’t
It tells me, you’ve already given up. Just don’t give up. Keep trying and your response should be. I am working on it.
I am amazing
OK, so you’re a rock star but it doesn’t mean you have to announce it.
Want more?
Do you want to impress your boss?
7 Golden Rules to Impress Your Project Manager
Kumari ReenaPosted Mar 30, 2017, 2:47 AM
Good Article Mahesh sir
Hassan SiddiquiPosted Mar 14, 2017, 7:23 AM
Nice, Thanks a lot.
Shaili DashoraPosted Mar 7, 2017, 12:41 PM
It is realy nice article @Mahesh Chand sir.
Gakenh01Posted Mar 7, 2017, 9:30 AM
"6. I just assumed that…" I have learned in life and most definitely programming/IT, you can never assume anything.
Prashant KumarPosted Feb 16, 2017, 11:43 AM
Awesome article....
Mohamed Gani MnPosted Nov 6, 2015, 11:24 AM
Good Article
Abhishek KumarPosted Oct 28, 2015, 6:01 AM
Nice..
Edrick LomibaoPosted Aug 10, 2015, 5:24 AM
Nice.
RakeshPosted Jul 12, 2015, 8:46 AM
Good Article Sir and Good Explain All. Thank you again
Sahil MaheshwaryPosted Jul 12, 2015, 1:18 AM
I have one question sir. I agree with your points but commitment is not from one side it is from both side. Means from company from manager. Everyone. We cannot blame or question everytime on developer.
Afzaal Ahmad ZeeshanPosted Apr 19, 2015, 11:02 AM
Good article... Good thing to note that you are also a fan of comics and super heroes. ;)
Krishnanand SivarajPosted Feb 21, 2015, 2:31 PM
very clever and good to read from you as a developer. No forum shares these useful information as csharpcorner does. hats off
Chao HuPosted Dec 15, 2014, 7:46 AM
well ,good
Rahul JainPosted Dec 7, 2014, 10:24 AM
Mahesh Sir : You should write 1 more article : 1st would be : Top 10 things How to impress your client !!!
Vithal WadjePosted Nov 19, 2014, 2:09 PM
Great ,this is article of the year and career advice for lifetime,thanks for sharing this types of career related advices and suggestion
Mahesh ChandPosted Nov 16, 2014, 10:54 PM
It seems like the title was misleading. I have updated the title. The article was written for developers so they "think" before they say these words. These words may mean something different to their boss. I am working on an article for the "other side". Things a Boss should never say to their employees :).
Suthish NairPosted Nov 9, 2014, 3:08 AM
http://blog.codinghorror.com/just-say-no/
Mahesh ChandPosted Oct 26, 2014, 9:37 AM
Thanks Vidya and Manju. My next article I will work on how to reply if your boss is "an idiot" :)
Manju lata YadavPosted Oct 26, 2014, 2:02 AM
nice article and well explained in comments..
Sam HobbsPosted Oct 25, 2014, 4:10 PM
I agree that "Well, I did my best" and "I don’t have a solution" are not good if it is the end of the conversation. I think it could however be the beginning of a conversation in which, as you say, we ask for more time and/or more resources. I might however be much more interested in discussing things than other people are.
Sam HobbsPosted Oct 25, 2014, 4:07 PM
What if we were to say "I don’t know but I will find out"? Would that be okay? If we were asked about something previously and then said "I don’t know" then that is different from not yet hearing the question and honestly saying we do not know.
Vidya Vrat AgarwalPosted Oct 25, 2014, 1:34 PM
Very informative, and applicable to all IT people no matter you are in your home country or abroad. Thanks for sharing your insight.
Abhishek KumarPosted Oct 25, 2014, 11:11 AM
Great article Mahesh...very practical experience.... thanks for sharing your experience ...some experience you will never understand unless you have faced it.....Its really amazing , Thanks for mentoring us with your knowledge and experience...much appreciated.....Congrats and thanks...
Mahesh ChandPosted Oct 25, 2014, 10:25 AM
Good points ibrahim. I didn't mean the job that is outside of your project work. There will be times when work is outside of your scope and you don't want to do that but the "phrase" can be rephrased in a manner when it will sound like, you are aware of that. You definitely don't want to do job that is outside of your project and your boss must be idiot asking you to do Sys Admin job :). With I am amazing, exactly point is, you don't need to go and sing that song everyday. If you're amazing, people already know about it. If your boss doesn't know and you want to raise, you can explain in a professional manner with the reason.
Ibrahim ErsoyPosted Oct 25, 2014, 3:49 AM
Hi Mahesh,I dont agree with you in some points.For strict rule companies,what you say are absolutely true.But when it comes to a more-relaxed companies where corporate rules and politics isnt involved,some of these points mean nothing.For example: I told my boss that "its not part of my job". And i was right 'coz system administration wasnt my job and since there was no other developer available and qualified enough to handle such a job,i took it willingly and completed.According to your point,if i said "yes I have to do it" all the system administration work would be assigned to me which **** my timeline and ruins my social life for sure.A developer must say "NO" sometimes... And another point which makes me talk about is "At my last job we did it this way". Most companies recruit according to past experience on the subject.If that was the case,why do recruiters ask about past experience in interviews? Past experience is important for companies,but the problem will occur when you brag about it like "I succeeded doing this job on my previous job,this is a walk in the park" then your boss or managers may be pissed off.If they dont care about past experience,they shouldnt ask questions about past companies you worked on in the interviews. Last disaggreement with you is "I am amazing".If its an ego issue,its a problem.If your friends/boss/managers say that "your amazing" and you reply "yeah i know,i am amazing" then its no problem.Because you just got permission to showcase your ego.They asked for it :) Ego is a problem for companies that has a culture or strict rules by default.