When & How to Disagree With the Boss

One of the frequent questions I’m asked by the managers/leaders I coach is “How do I effectively disagree with my boss?” Knowing how to disagree with your boss, and not commit career suicide, is an essential skill set and falls under the category of learning to “manage up.” While most managers/leaders are able to manage down – at least a majority of the time- being able to effectively “manage up” is a much more difficult for the obvious reason: the boss not only has significant control over the day to day operation and can make a subordinate’s work life miserable but they also exercise considerable influence over a subordinate’s future with the company. Therefore, -duh- making the boss an enemy is never a good career move.

However, with that said, it is a manager’s/leader’s obligation, to both their boss and the organization, to have a well thought out opinion about situations/issues/problems, that is supported by facts and gut instinct, and then to timely and effectively express that opinion to their boss – even if it is not the opinion held by the boss. Failing to do this is a disservice to the boss, whose opinion might be changed if they heard a well thought out and appropriately expressed different point of view, and a failure to properly represent the organization that gives them a paycheck. So, my counsel is: once your opinion has been formulated you should not change that opinion or be reluctant to express it just because the boss disagrees or may not like it. However, how you deliver your opinion is paramount to having your opinion heard without having potentially toxic fallout. So, before you inadvertently commit career suicide, consider these Rules for disagreeing with the Boss and surviving the experience: