Oh, like I wasn’t going to use this.

 

Hey, all; Happy Friday –

 

In the annals of the JRT, it should come as a shock to no-one that one of the most popular subjects/causes of our collective wailings remains Bosses. In the year and change since this thread been around, we’ve run the whole gamut:

Good bosses, bad bosses, smart bosses, dumb bosses, spacey bosses, petty bosses, angry bosses, chill bosses, mini-bosses, asshole bosses, absent bosses. Your boss, my boss, their boss, Who’s The Boss? Bruce Springsteen; we’ve gone over them all.

But here’s something I bet you didn’t know: All those boss-types discussed, in all their many and varied professions, have one thing in common: They absolutely, positively, don’t want to hear anything from you that doesn’t involve the smooth running of their place of business. Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that; after all, they’ve got a job to do, and so do you. But still, in the words of Pliny the Elder: Shit Happens. And invariably, there will come a time or six in which your boss  has to hear something they don’t want to hear; and likely something you don’t want to tell them.

So. what to do? How does one break bad news to someone who doesn’t want to hear it? What methods or wording can one use to deliver bad news in such a way that, in addition to not only getting your point across, will also shield you from the inevitable blowback? I know that. with my current boss, he will often be just as overworked as me, if not more so; so that whenever I need to tell him something unpleasant, even if I’m completely in the right, I still feel bad for adding more shit to the shit pile.

What about yourselves? How is it for you when it comes to being the bearer of bad tidings? Are you able to discuss things like reasonable people? Or do you feel like an extra in The Empire Strikes Back who gets to share a scene with Darth Vader? Let’s share our stories today; and of course any of the other B.S. you might need to get off of your chest.

As ever, have a productive rest of the day, safe trip home, and a great weekend. And remember: If all else fails, just leave a note right as you’re heading out the door. It’s worked wonders for me.