Instant Alert: 13 confusing things your boss says — and what they really mean

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13 confusing things your boss says — and what they really mean

by Shana Lebowitz on Nov 30, 2017, 1:16 PM

It can be hard to get used to a new boss' communication style.
To figure out the meaning of their vague comments, you have to consider the context of the conversation and your relationship with them.
We asked two workplace experts to decode some common confusing remarks from bosses — from "Not bad" to "Do you have the bandwidth?"

It can take a while to get used to your boss' communication style. When they call your idea "interesting," are they saying it's the stupidest thing they've ever heard? Or simply mulling it over for a moment? You can drive yourself crazy trying to figure it out.

According to Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage," understanding your boss' cryptic comments depends a lot on the context of the conversation and the relationship you have with them. Maybe you should take everything at face value, or maybe you really should read between the lines.

We asked Kerr and Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," to parse some common confusing statements from bosses. Read on to learn how to speak manager-ese.

'I trust you to make the right decision on this one'

On the one hand, this remark could mean your boss is giving you more autonomy and wants to empower you — "which are all good things," Kerr said.

On the other hand, Kerr added, it could mean they want you to work more independently and take more responsibility for your work than you have in the past.

'The timing for this just isn't good right now'

Maybe this really isn't a great time to put your idea into action — because of financial or logistical constraints.

But, Kerr said, your boss may also be saying there will never be a good time for this idea: "I'm just kicking it down the field because I don't want to deal with it."

Alternatively, Kerr said, it might mean you didn't do a good job presenting the idea and you need to do a little more homework to sell your boss on its importance.