How to Tell Your Boss Youre Not Happy at Work - The Muse

How to Tell Your Boss Youre Not Happy at Work - The MuseHow to Tell Your Boss Youre Not Happy at Work In an ideal world, our jobs would be challenging, engaging, and rewarding all the time. But, as Im sure youre already aware, that isnt always the case. Sometimes this calls for a drastic change- like finding a new job- but otherbei times, it may just take a small tweak to get your career back on track to a more satisfying path.So, how, exactly does one do that? Well, one incredibly simple way thats worked well for me might surprise you Tell your babo youre bedrngnis happy. I know, it probably goes against everything youve ever been taught about moving ahead in your career, but take it from me, sometimes bosses have no idea their employees arent totally loving their work. And, if you do it right, both you and your boss will thank you for speaking up. Heres how to do it.Make a ListI love lists. They help organize your thoughts, and they provide a nice outline for tough discussions. I f ound them especially helpful a few years ago, when I decided to approach my boss to let her know I welchesnt totally loving my work. Id been working for the company for a few years and had loved my job until our company started to go through several major mergers. I knew part of my dissatisfaction was related to the mergers, but I couldnt quite put my finger on what it was. My job description hadnt changed, and I wasnt working unreasonably long hours, so it was hard to place what was wrong. So, I started jotting down everything, big or small, that made me twitch each day, for about a week. When I reviewed my list, some things immediately popped out at me. I was now working with a new group, which was located in a different time zone, and because we had certain deadlines to meet, I noticed I wasnt going to the gym or taking lunches as often as I used to. Other things werent quite so obvious- at least to me- which ended up being really useful when the time came to chat with my boss. O nce youve done that, its time toPlan a MeetingNo boss likes to hear a laundry list of whats wrong with the job or the company. So, chances are, if you simply present your list of does not like, your boss will view it as complaints or demands he or she cant meet.So, after jotting down your list, its a good idea to make a new one for your discussion with your boss. Review your grievances, see if there are any themes that pop out, and summarize them into agenda items. For example, if youre always eating lunch at your desk or constantly cancelling plans with friends because youre stuck working late, put maintaining a healthy work-life balance as one of the points youd like to discuss. Whenever possible, try to frame your list in positive terms, and from a perspective of solutions rather than simply complaints (more on that in a bit). Once you have your list tidied up, its time to call that meeting. Now, you might be tempted to rush over to your boss and tell him or her you want to talk. But trust me, if you dont want your boss to go into crisis mode, do not do this. Bosses are hard-wired to think somethings terribly wrong whenever an employee approaches them and says, theres something Id like to talk to you about. Instead, find a smooth segue by approaching your manager immediately after a team meeting or after chatting over coffee in the break room. Say you have some ideas on improving your turnaround time on a project, or boosting morale around here, you would like his or her input, and youd love to schedule a time to chat. Now, your boss is primed to not only hear your ideas, but to share his or her own, as well.When you sit down for the conversation, I recommend one of three approaches1. Suggest a SolutionHow you tell your boss youre feeling blas about work is a delicate matter. You dont want to come across as overly negative, but you also dont want to sugarcoat your dissatisfaction, either. So, a great way to approach the conversation is to pair your concerns with suggestions on how to solve them in a way thats mutually beneficial. For example, if your lunch hour has been hijacked by a meeting with the team in London, mention to your boss that having the meeting an hour earlier might help keep the team focused, as everyone wont be watching the clock as their stomachs growl, and the London team wont have to stay so late. Keep the focus on what you can do to improve the situation. Your boss will appreciate the thoughtfulness of your suggestions (and, um, hopefully get the message that your much-needed lunch hour is being sacrificed).2. Solicit AdviceNot totally sure how to solve the problem? Thats OK- you can use the meeting as an opportunity to ask your boss for advice. Lets say, for example, you cant stand working with Bob in accounting due to his terrible dental hygiene habits. Mention youre having some challenges working with Bob, and ask for suggestions on how you can manage the relationship better. Fill your boss in on the tactics y ouve already tried, but didnt seem to work (like suggesting to Bob that email communication works better for you for record-keeping purposes), then ask to brainstorm a few more ideas. The idea is to make your boss aware of the situation so he or she can help you find a solution, not to grouse about Bobs bad breath.3. Ask for HelpThis one might sound tough, but sometimes thats exactly what you need- especially if youre not exactly sure whats getting you down on the job. Let your manager know youre not feeling as engaged as you have been previously, and youd like his or her help getting your groove back. Mention your list, and get the conversation going about what youve noticed around the office and with your role. Keep the discussion as positive as possible, making sure the focus is not on the fact that youre unhappy, but that youre trying to get back on top again. Your boss will appreciate the commitment, and after chatting with you for a while, he or she will have some insight on w hat motivates you- or doesnt- and will be better equipped to help guide you back to a happy place.None of us love our jobs all the time, but if you arent into it most of the time, that usually spells trouble. Getting to the bottom of whats irking you at work isnt easy, but with some careful reflection and honest discussions with your boss, youll hopefully find yourself falling back in love with your work.