As a top Houston staffing agency, Murray Resources knows it’s an uncomfortable situation for most employees. You think your boss is going down the wrong path, or isn’t considering all angles. But you’re afraid of offending them by offering your opinion. Here’s how you can you disagree with your boss, but still be diplomatic:

Don’t be afraid to speak up.
Your opinion matters and it’s your job as an employee to offer it up, especially when it can make a crucial difference in an important decision. Not only that, but if you want to move ahead in your career, you need to get comfortable with voicing your opinion in a mature and rational way.

Don’t get emotional.
You might be passionate about your position. But the best way to get your boss to tune out or be unreceptive to your message is to get emotional. Keep your feelings in check and simply view yourself more in a consulting role. In other words, strive to simply collaborate and offer advice that will lead to the best possible solution.

Let go of your ego.
You might think you’re right. But don’t let your ego get the best of you. Instead, rather than making the case for why you’re spot-on, talk about how your idea or solution would better benefit the company. Frame it in a way that takes “you” out of the equation.

Don’t nitpick.
It’s important to be assertive at work. That said, you don’t want to nitpick every single thing that you disagree with your boss on. As the saying goes, “choose your battles.” But it’s especially important to speak up when your performance will be impacted, or the company’s bottom line.

Talk privately.
If you’re in the midst of a big brainstorming session and everyone is voicing their opinion, then it’s fine to let yours be known. However, if it’s a sensitive situation, or you adamantly disagree with a decision your boss made, don’t call them out in front of everyone. Timing is everything and it’s important to pick the right moment to challenge your boss.

Be diplomatic.
Don’t just come right out and say you disagree. If you want your boss to be receptive to your comments, it’s important to phrase your opinion in a softer way. You can say something like, “Can we look at this another way? For instance, at X.” or “I understood that a little differently. My take was that Y and Z.”

In the end, once you’ve voiced your disagreement, if your boss chooses to ignore it, it’s their decision. You need to accept the situation, though you may continue to respectfully disagree.

Interested in more tips to help with your career? Check out our resource center. As a top Houston staffing agency, we can also help connect you with new opportunities in the area, so you can advance your career and achieve your goals. Contact us today to learn more.