It’s unavoidable. At some point in your career, you will find yourself in the uncomfortable position of being alone with your boss. There’s no warning. It just happens. And now you have to make a choice: Either stand there in silence (How awkward is that?) or say something.

Actually, you have no choice. You need to relax and muster up the self-confidence to speak to this intimidating figure. But what do you say?

Here are three suggestions to make you feel less inept during these random encounters and to keep you from cringing when you think back on them.

1.    Talk about work

Work is certainly common ground on which to base a conversation. After all, you share the same company goals, so questions such as, “Have you heard anything on the bid we sent in on that large project?” or “Have you had any feedback on that new installation?” are always appropriate.

These types of conversation-starters can eliminate an awkward moment and keep things focused on your shared purpose: The welfare of the business.

2.    Keep it simple

If you meet your boss in the bathroom, resist the urge to become talkative to get through this awkward moment. This is not the place for it. If you feel that a friendly smile is not enough, mention the weather or last night’s Maple Leafs game — and leave it at that.

3.    Ask an open-ended question

Say you’re stuck in an elevator with your boss and you’re traveling several floors. Or you’re both walking in the same direction down a long corridor.

Instead of gossiping about a fellow worker (a definite no-no) or commenting on your boss’s weight loss (dangerous ground), just ask an open-ended question. “How are things going?” and “Any exciting plans for the weekend?” are good choices. These questions will get you safely to the destination floor or the end of the hallway.

Let us help you

Are you looking for your dream job? There is no need to conduct this important search by yourself. Get in touch with HCR Personnel Solutions, a leading manufacturing recruitment agency in Southwestern Ontario that recruits top professionals for exceptional career opportunities.

Contact Us



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *