How To Communicate With Your Manager

Knowing how to effectively communicate with your manager is an important skill to have. Read this quick guide if you want to find out how.

It doesn’t matter what your occupation is, knowing how to communicate with your manager is a crucial aspect of any job. It’s safe to say that at some point during your career, you will need to discuss a project, voice a concern, or request a change. It’s important to communicate effectively with your manager to ensure your needs and ideas are heard. In this quick guide, we will discuss some tips and strategies to help you communicate effectively with your manager.

1. Be Respectful

As with any relationship, respect is the most important thing. Remember, your managers are people too. The old saying, “treat people the way you would like to be treated,” rings true in these scenarios. Respect must be given if it is to be expected in return. Your manager is more likely to show you respect if you mutually show it to them. Some examples of how you could show this include: avoiding interruptions, being polite and professional, and listening actively to what they have to say.

2. Be Clear and Specific

When communicating with your manager (or anyone for that matter), being clear and specific should be at the top of your priority list. If you want to make sure that your message is received accurately and that there are no misunderstandings, don’t be vague or unsure of what you’re communicating. Steer clear of general statements, rather be clear in direct in what you say. A great technique to ensure that someone is on the same page as you is to ask them to repeat what they think you said back to you.

3. Be Prepared

Make sure that you are prepared before you begin communicating with your manager. What you bring to the table will be different depending on your field/industry, but this could include research, data, or examples that support your argument or request. Preparation shows commitment to your role and solution focused. 

4. Avoid Confrontation

While it’s important to be direct and specific in your communication, it’s also important to do so in a way that avoids confrontation. As mentioned above, being solution focused is a priority. A confrontational approach is rarely appropriate in any circumstance; Your aim should be collaborative communication; a positive relationship with your manager only leads to success.

5. Provide Feedback

Believe it or not, you’re allowed to provide feedback to your manager too. Any good manager would welcome this. They might be your boss, but they still need to hear how they’re doing as well. This feedback could include both positive feedback, to acknowledge their contributions, and constructive feedback, to suggest improvements or areas for growth. When providing feedback, be specific and focus on the behaviour or task at hand, rather than the person. Also, don’t forget what was mentioned in point 4, keep your communication collaborative and solution focused.

Knowing how to effectively communicate with your manager is an important aspect of your job as a staff member. By showing respect, being clear and specific, being prepared,, avoiding confrontation, and providing feedback, you can foster a positive and productive relationship with your manager. Good luck with your future conversations!