The Phrase Your Boss Never Wants To Hear?

Your boss asks if you could look into the presentation a colleague prepared, to see if there’s anything else that needs to be added. Your answer, which is typical of what most people would say: “Sure, no problem.”

You say it. I say it. We pretty much all say – often on a daily basis too. But did you know that “no problem” is a phrase a lot of bosses get annoyed when they hear it?

Who’d knew, right! Here’s what’s so bad about saying “no problem”: When you say it to the person asking you to do something, it comes across as rude. For starters, your boss may think that her request is a problem or a hassle for you in the first place. Which isn’t the case at all as she’s not asking if you have the time to do it, she’s asking you to do the work but in a polite way.

At the same time, “no problem” is a flippant, fast response to get out of a situation. It’s like you’re not really thinking about what’s being asked or said in the first place; you’re answering “no problem” on autopilot. Which then causes your boss to think, did you even listen to what she said in the first place?

Now, if you’re still trying to figure out what the fuss is, imagine if the tables were turned. You ask a junior to do something for you and she nonchalantly replies, “Yah ok, no problem”. Or the waiter just nodding saying the same without looking at you when you ask if you can switch to oat milk. Like your boss, you’d be wondering the same: Did they hear what I said…?

It's easy to see why people would get annoyed when they hear “no problem!” In some cases, it is a problem!

Fortunately, swapping it out from your lingo is…no problem (pun intended). There are many other ways to reply to your boss that would offer a better impression and above all, let your boss know that you’re on it. For example, why not say “Absolutely. I’ll get to it right away”? Or better yet, ask your boss for more details like when she wants it done and if there is anything you need to look out for. This tells your boss that one, you know what is expected of you and two, that you want to make sure you do the job right.

More importantly, it tells her that you are serious about your job and not just casually saying “no problem” and then an hour later, wondering what it is that you’re supposed to do!

So the next time you’re about to say “no problem” to your boss, check yourself and say “I’d be happy to” instead. Trust me when I say your boss would much rather hear you say this!

What do you think about using “no problem” at work? Yay, nay, or nah, it doesn’t bother me much? Tell us @Graduan!

Photo by nilshendrikmueller.de on Pinterest.