How to disagree with your boss and how it can lead to great opportunities.
The idea that a butterfly flapping its wings can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world is a tough one to get your head around.
That such a small, seemingly nothing action can have major repercussions can seem drastic, but every avalanche starts with a snowball . There are countless examples of the butterfly effect as it is called.
As an employee, it can be hard to disagree with your manager. In a survey by the Predictive Index, 11% of people believed they could not approach their manager with a problem.
Now imagine you are in a meeting. There you are with your manager, and perhaps even their manager. A point comes up that you perhaps don’t agree with or feel could be explored further and you know that your suggestion could make a big difference. What are your options? Well, you could simply bite your tongue, nod your head and go along with it.
Or you could, and maybe should, make your point. It could be the flap of the wings which set off the hurricane of improvement that otherwise would have been a missed opportunity. Indeed, where good bosses are in place, there should be no fear of speaking up and putting forward your suggestions – it should even be encouraged.
But just how do you go about disagreeing without being hostile and how as a manager can you encourage collective thinking without being overbearing?
This is how to disagree with your boss.
Timing is Key
You don’t want to be disagreeing with everything your manager says. This is only going to cause conflict and inevitably lead to tension between co-workers. Instead choose your moments.
It might be that you can speak to them one-to-one rather than in a group setting. This could certainly help avoid any potential feelings that you are undermining them.
State your reason
Come with an explanation – don’t simply say I don’t agree. Be constructive in your argument – why do you disagree?
Is there an issue with safety that you don’t feel comfortable with or do you feel that there could be a better, more efficient way of doing things?
Maybe there are some parts that you agree with, but feel others could be done differently. Explain how your ideas could mix with the current thoughts and how that could deliver better results for everyone.
As a manager – open the floor
If you are a manager do your best not to be a dictator. By all means have your own ideas and thoughts – that’s no bad thing. But stay open to new ideas. It might well be that there is something that you’ve overlooked that your employees may pick up on.
By seeing their side of things and being open to change or certainly tinkering with the original plan, your staff will feel more trusted and appreciated and will look more favourably on you rather than if you dismiss their ideas point blank.
Consider promoting the open discourse in the induction programme – Actively teach new staff how to disagree with the boss.
Agree to disagree
Even if you disagree with an employees thoughts, don’t belittle them. Acknowledge that their input is valid, but maybe doesn’t quite work.
Justify any idea with reason. ‘That’s a good thought, but in the current climate…’ sounds a lot better and professional than ‘No’.