Covertly Point Out Flaws in Your Boss's Argument by Asking Them to "Tell You More"

We've all been in the situation where a boss says something that's horribly wrong, but no amount of argument on your part is going to convince them of that. If you can't be blunt about it, Fast Company recommends asking them to "tell you more."

The idea here is to give you a sense of power, and to make your boss explain their decisions in a way where you don't have to be in your face about it. Hopefully, by the end of it, you'll have pointed out the flaws in their argument, but your boss won't even realize it:

Regardless of the complexities of your bosses' interior life, you're still trying to make yourself heard without giving (or receiving) an earful. To that end, Crowe recommends a subtle trick for when you hit a point of contention: Simply repeat back to them what they said and ask "Is that what you meant?" (a standard trick ripped from couples' therapy). If they agree to your recap, ask them to tell you more about it. When you repeat their perspective back to them, you give them a chance to expound and, crucially, to feel heard.

This simple little trick makes it so your boss still feels like you're listening to them, but it allows you to point out the flaws in their point without directly confronting them. It's not going to work in every situation, but it's a good first step to make sure they really know what they're talking about. Head over to Fast Company for a few other subtle tricks for dealing with a boss you know is wrong.

Tricks From Couples' Therapy For Dealing With A Boss Who's Wrong | Fast Company

Photo by Martin Stabenfeldt .

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