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If you know your boss is totally wrong about something how would you handle it?

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Question added by Omer Mohammad Awais , Senior Sales Consultant , Dar Wa Emaar
Date Posted: 2014/03/20

I would try explaining him/her with relevant points and justification on why I think he/she is wrong and if possible then I would even suggest better alternatives. The end decision is of the boss, either way.

asif khan
by asif khan , Installation and maintenance head , International technical support

we can just politely request the boss, after that its on him/her wether to accept or not.

I would speak to him and try to resolve the issue at hand. If that does not work then I would take it to another level. Usually communication is the best. Especially when it's your boss

Mohamed Shafik Tawfik El-Gaabari
by Mohamed Shafik Tawfik El-Gaabari , Computer Engineer , Albanaon AlArab Contracting company

"It depends on the situation and the personality of the supervisor".

To elaborate, give examples:

My present supervisor does not like to have his authority questioned. He's fairly new on the job and almost all of the people he supervises have been on the job longer than he has. He's never bothered to learn the procedures, how things are done or how the computer system works. But if any of us tell him that how he wants something done won't work, he gets extremely angry. So, I never tell him he's wrong. Never. Whatever he tells me to do, I smile and say "okay." Then if I know a way to get it done that will work, I do it that way, give him the results he wants and never tell him I didn't do it the way he told me to. He got the results and is happy. I saved myself the stress of being yelled at and gave him what he wanted, so I'm happy.

My prior supervisor was more easy-going and if I told her "You know, I think it might work better if I do what you asked in such and such a way," she would say "Okay, try it."

Mohammed M Siddiqui
by Mohammed M Siddiqui , Operations Manager , Confidential

Offer your alternative suggestions instead of directly telling it wrong. It depends on how you are comfortable in direct talk, but it vary from person to person but still this is very sensitive subject.

Khatim Abbas Seed
by Khatim Abbas Seed , BUSINESS CONSULTANT , Google

Don't tell him that he's wrong. Most people especially in high positions don't like to be wronged (unless extraordinary managers), but tell him that your "suggestion may be found better if looked at or examined". Be diplomatic and MANAGE your manager through an effective communication style, applicable to his character. Using Euphemisms (disguising words) in this case is not cowardly, rather handy.

Haranath Krishnardhula
by Haranath Krishnardhula , Acquisition Lead , HMITS

In MNCs.. there is one unsaid rule which will be explained to all new joinees by their peers i.e.,

If your Boss is wrong then you have the following rules 

Rule -1. Boss is always correct.

Still you feel your Boss is wrong then look for second rule 

Rule -2. Please follow the Rule-1

 

 

Santosh Kumar Jangid Santosh
by Santosh Kumar Jangid Santosh , Area Sales Manager , SP Techno Solution Pvt Ltd

If there is an option to notify his/her senior boss ,Then notify .

Otherwise start looking for an another job , Because working in an bad guideline are softly kills our skills & professional potential.

 

Abdul Jabbar
by Abdul Jabbar , Owner , Side Business

just tell the boss that he is wrong, offcourse politely but your coments should have logic in it. 

Divyesh Patel
by Divyesh Patel , Assistant Professional Officer- Treasury , City Of Cape Town

It depends on the situation and the personality of the leader/boss/supervisor. Many employees fear of losing their jobs so they will just keep quite.

 

One thing to remember, your boss is human after all and bound to be wrong sometimes.

 

There are ways to handle when your boss is wrong:

 

  1. Consider the situation and your motives
  2. Consider whether the correction is necessary
  3. Never correct you boss publicly

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