047: Recognizing Red Flags: When to Have Bold Conversations with Your Boss

Playing In The Sandbox

What are the signs that you need to talk to your boss? In this episode of Playing In The Sandbox, I share five red flags that it’s time to have a bold conversation with the one you report to. Grab your pen and paper to learn these workplace strategies and boost your career development.

1. Recognizing the Need for Career Advancement

• Feeling stuck: This is a clear signal that it’s time to have an open conversation with your boss.

• Lack of career progression: The absence of opportunities to grow your skills can cause you to feel as though your hard work isn’t appreciated.

• Pay the wave: Speaking up about your concerns can lead to career advancement and uncover new possibilities for growth within the organization.

2. Addressing Overwork and Restoring Work-Life Balance

• Overwork causes stress: Working long hours without breaks, drowning in an endless sea of tasks, and struggling to find time for yourself and your loved ones will easily destroy your overall well-being.

• Make a difference: If you’re stressed, talk with your boss. Share specific examples of how overwork affects you with your boss to spark necessary changes, helping you rediscover balance and boost productivity within your work.

3. Reconnecting with the Company's Mission

• Goal disconnection: Feeling disconnected from your company’s goals can leave you feeling undervalued and unappreciated.

• Clear the air: Talking with your boss about how your role fits into the company’s mission can bring the clarity you need. This conversation can help you align your tasks and projects with the company’s vision, giving you a clearer sense of purpose.

• Why it helps: Understanding how you contribute to the company’s goals can lead to greater satisfaction and fulfillment in your work.

4. Bridging Team Disconnection Through Open Communication

• Team disconnection: Feeling left out from your co-workers can make you feel like you’re not a team member.

• Why it happens: These feelings might stem from unclear communication, changing responsibilities, or a lack of feedback, leading to anxiety and a fractured team spirit.

• Bring positive changes: Expressing these concerns to your boss can help create a more supportive and understanding environment.

5. Addressing Unresolved Workplace Conflicts

• Toxicity: Unresolved conflicts in the workplace are deep red flags that can seriously affect morale and productivity. These conflicts can fester and create a toxic environment.

• Solution: Bringing these concerns to your boss in a solution-focused conversation can help highlight the impact of these conflicts and outline steps for resolution.

Go to https://www.tammyjbond.com/podcast to change your mindset and behaviors so you can elevate your communication and leadership! We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Amazon Podcast, or Spotify and subscribe to our YouTube channel. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios."