Emily Chan
If your boss is adding more to your workload without a raise, you might want to snap back with, “I don’t work for free.”
Instead, you should say, “These tasks are an expansion of my role here. Is there a plan to review this and compensate me for that?”
You can’t tell a coworker the idea they brought to the table was a terrible one. The question: “Are we confident this is our solution to this problem, or are we still exploring alternatives?” is a more appropriate way of reflecting your sentiments.
To express to a coworker that you don’t care and they should complete the task instead of you, simply state, “I’ll rely on your judgment. I’m not passionate one way or another.”
Next on the list of insults is “Not today, Satan.” That translates to, “I’ll be glad to circle back to this when I have more time.”
When you wish to tell your boss to stop micromanaging you and get off your back, say, “I am confident in my ability to complete this task, but I will reach out if and when I have any further questions.”
“Stay in your lane” translates to “Thank you for your input. I’ll keep that in mind when I’m moving forward, making decisions about my own job responsibilities.”
“That is not my job” translates to “I do not have the capacity to take this on at the moment, but I’ll be glad to support where it makes sense.”
If you want to order someone to Google something, tell them, “The internet is a great resource to clarify questions like this. In the future, I’ll be available to help you with anything you are not able to find online.”
To let people know you refuse to stay late to finish more work, say, “My workday concludes at 5 PM. I’ll be glad to prioritize this in the coming days when I have availability.”
Here’s how to tell someone to stop promising unrealistic timelines and deadlines: “Can you clarify your thinking on these deadlines because I’m not following?”
