Register now or log in to join your professional community.
First impression Oh my goodness!
"You would feeling your boss taking advantage of your helpful attitude because you do not say no, Wouldn't you?".
Simply , you should speak to him about your feelings?
Say something like, “When I accepted the job, I understood there would be certain tasks, Lately, however, the amount of work assignments you’ve been asking me to do has increased significantly”.
Well, or say………..
“I’m not comfortable taking on that type of work load when I was hired to be the office manager; Could you look into other options, please ?”
However, be aware that while it’s possible that he’ll back off and stop asking you to do this objects, it’s also possible that he’ll tell you that it’s a newest part of the job. And while yes, if that’s the case, he should have told you that during the hiring process, it’s also possible that the needs of the job changed and he now realizes he needs someone who’s willing to do extra tasks as well as the other work you perform. And that’s his call to make.
One last thing, if you feel your boss is taking advantage of your helpful attitude because you don’t say no. It’s actually not common to often, if ever, have to say a direct “no” to your manager, at least not in most jobs. Rather, you’d generally have a conversation like the one described above (“this isn’t something I realized the job entailed; is this something you really need this role to do?”), or you’d say “If I do A, it means that I won’t be able to spend as much time on High Priority B and I won’t get to Priority C at all,” or so forth.
What you want to do is talk openly about expectations and priorities, and to realize that the role may shift over time and that you can decide at any point that it’s no longer for you. It’s also important to keep it as impersonal as possible — both in your mind and in your approach. That’s the difference between “I’m insulted that you asked me to do extra tasks” versus “It sounds like you need someone to do extra tasks for you, which isn’t quite what I’m looking for; I’d like to stay focused on keeping our accounts running smoothly.
So talk to your boss, but approach it as dispassionately as you can. Good luck.
Pushing back on a request from your boss can be intimidating (especially if you work for someone who’s, let's say, not the most receptive to answers outside the realm of “Of course! When would you like it completed?”), but the truth is, it's significantly better than setting yourself up to fail.
The trick is to push back more diplomatically—getting your point across without actually using the word "no." Read on for how to approach some common situations, as well as one time you should probably just say “yes.”
Situation: You Truly Don't Have the Time
While, “No, I don't have time,” seems like a perfectly legit response when you’re up to your elbows in other work, it can also make your boss question your ability to capably prioritize and execute the tasks that are on your plate.
So, this is the time to remember, “Show, don't tell.” Respond to your boss by saying, “Could you help me prioritize my project list?” In that meeting, lay out what you're working on, how long it's taking, and what you would have to delay or stop doing in order to take on the new task.
The best thing about this approach is that, along with demonstrating everything on your plate, you're giving your boss the opportunity to weigh in on what’s most important. That way, if the new project can be passed off or held for later, it likely will be, and if it needs your attention now, you have full permission to de-prioritize something else.
Related: Feeling Overwhelmed? 6 Ways to Take Control of Your Workload
Situation: You Disagree With the Strategy at Hand
Even if you're thinking, “No, I would never take that approach with this client—how could you even consider that?” remember that the abrasive approach is not terribly conducive to brainstorming new ideas.
Instead, try, “Can I throw out another idea?” One of two things happens when you ask a question like that—clearly, your boss says “yes” or “no.” But here’s the amazing part: If your boss says “yes” (which happens more often than not) she has welcomed you to contribute a new approach before you even start in, which means she's much more likely to consider it.
If she says “No—this is the way we’re doing it,” you know she's serious about the proposed strategy, despite your reservations. (At this point, you have to ask yourself if you're comfortable assuming she has some additional context or end game or—only on the most important occasions—jump to, “I hear this is not the time for new ideas, but I have a serious concern, namely...”)
Related: Giving Feedback to Your Boss—Like a Boss
Situation: You Just Don't Want To
Someone has to arrive mega early for an upcoming event. Someone needs to work late the night before. Someone needs to drop what he or she is doing and run to Kinko’s. Whether you're on a small staff or facing a busy time of year, there are times when your boss asks you to do a bit extra, and part of you just wants to say, “Isn’t there someone else who could do it?”
Fact is, though, no one will consider you a team player if you disappear when it's time to pitch in, and you don't want to be known as the employee who thinks he's above it. So, in general, it’s important to say “yes” when completing a nuisance task will be little more than, well, a nuisance.
That said, you can still say “no” if the task will distract you from your other projects (see situation 1) or if you are disproportionately the one asked and feel as though you're being taken advantage of.
If that's the case, in lieu of “no,” remind your boss how frequently you've been given odd jobs lately and include how you could better use that time. For example, “Perhaps someone else could take the early shift this event—I've prepped the room for the last two, and would love to take that time tomorrow to...” (Still always end up with extra scut work? Bring it up at your next evaluation.)
Related: 3 Strategies for Keeping Your Cool at Work
By speaking clearly—but without the letters n and o—you're finding a way to get your point across without making your boss get defensive. That way, you keep the focus where it should be (that everyone wants the best results) and won't get caught up in who decides how things are done.
Madam Ghada Ewada answer it brilliantly so agree to her.
Just tell him respectfully that it is not practical and the duty necessary legal action was taken and that it is God who gives a livelihood for people to share their
First Say yes , and try to link it with benefit to you , dont give for nothing in the personal issue , so his reaction will be asking for more and then win win , or he will stop as per what cost him
my suggestion:
Iff it happens frequently discuss it openly as an observation... Sir, I noticed that in the past 2 weeks you ask me tasks to do which are not part of my job role... do you have any reason for that? Keep it light... is this part of my next promotion, or are you testing my soft skills of flexibility.. hahahaI wonder if not other colleagues can help you too as sometimes the timing of my work is very critical too, and nobody likes customers who get unhappy with my delays. Are you aware of that Sir? Can you help me as I would like to support you and the team, but I have only 2 hands.
Thanks for the invite, I agreed with the rest of the answers
Do you need help in adding the right keywords to your CV? Let our CV writing experts help you.
