One of the most uncomfortable things for humans is dealing with conflict. Naturally, people swing on two extremes of the pendulum by either not speaking up and avoiding the issue altogether (which leads to frustration and burnout), or addressing it when hyper-emotional and reacting in haste (which can lead to inefficient and heated exchanges).
There are times at work when one might need to stand up for themself and address a particular issue that personally affects them.
One common example that we see is when someone is an amazing worker who goes above and beyond in all their tasks, but the boss is overloading that person with work because they are so efficient. If left unchecked, the employee would eventually become frustrated and burned out and that will not only affect the workplace, but also spill over into home life.
This is a good instance when someone should definitely speak up to their supervisor to find resolution to the issue. The boss may have no idea that the employee is taking on too much work since they keep accepting the tasks. The employee needs to speak up to let their supervisor know that they are overloaded and are concerned with the effects that taking on too many projects will have on quality, productivity and their wellbeing. This is just one example, but there are a variety of instances that may require one to speak up. But how does one stand up to their leaders with issues that personally affect them?
Here are some Dos and Don’ts in standing up for yourself at work:
DON’Ts:
Don’t assume that the person (your leader) is intentionally causing harm. More times than not, bosses don’t realize issues are issues until they are brought into the light.
Don’t lose your temper. Things can go off the rails quickly and issues can stay unresolved when emotions are heightened.
Don’t use accusatory statements. Language needs to be respectful, controlled and specific.
Don’t spring the conversation on your boss unexpectedly. You don’t want to address issues with your leader when they are in the middle of something or don’t have proper information about why the conversation is taking place. Make sure to give them time to prepare.
DOs:
Catch it early before it festers. The longer you wait, the more emotional you will become and more hardships may follow.
Prepare: think about what the issue is and the best approach to addressing the issue. Write down what you want to say and keep it focused on the policy, standard, etc. Make a list of items that you want to put on the table so that you stay on task and are sure to address each point you need to bring to the forefront. Practice (or rehearse) having that conversation beforehand.
Make sure to pick a date, time and place that you can have the full attention of your boss. Let them know in advance why (in general) you are wanting to meet.
Be humble, mature and respectful.
Come up with a plan on how to execute a change or solution. Leaders appreciate and value when people think of solutions to problems, rather than just stating the issue.
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