APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions.
Here, she helps a reader who feels embarrassed due to her boss constantly nit-picking.
Q) I work for a financial services company and my job involves doing complex calculations to send to clients.
I enjoy the job, but my boss’ nit-picking is getting me down.
I’m the first to admit that I’m more of a numbers person than a words one, and am happy for my written work to be corrected for grammar and spelling before it’s sent out.
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However, recently my manager has also taken to correcting my grammar when I’m talking in the office and even in meetings with the rest of my team.
It’s embarrassing and makes me feel humiliated. What should I do?
Sara, via email
A) Your manager’s behaviour is incredibly condescending and would drive me nuts!
It’s time to address this with your boss and tell them how you are feeling.
Say that, while you understand written communication with clients must be of the utmost professional standard, you find it insulting and inappropriate for them to correct you when you are speaking to colleagues, particularly in front of your team in meetings.
It’s never easy to have these awkward conversations, especially with your manager, but it is important to stop behaviour that is humiliating and upsetting you.
If they continue to do it, the next time they interrupt you to correct you, simply say: “Please allow me to speak.”
Then take a deep breath and continue with what you were saying.
As hard as this may feel, by asserting yourself in a polite, professional manner, you will gain respect from your team and, hopefully, eventually your manager.
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Stand up for yourself and take back the conversation with authority and politeness.
Got a careers question for Karren? Email bossingit@fabulousmag.co.uk.