What to do if your boss asks you something difficult

If you haven’t seen the Horrible Bosses movie, do yourself a favor and watch it. It is fun and very relatable. The reason we brought this up is that as outlandish and silly as the movie has been, there has actually been a boss or two who may have asked for a little more from an employee than is in the job description.

So maybe this is happening to you, or you anticipate that your boss is a freak. These six steps will help you deal with any strange requests from your boss

For this article, we will provide an “extreme” example, in the hope that your situation will be less dramatic.

This is the scenario: You have been working on your job for three months. Your boss comes up to you during a break and asks to speak to you in private. Obey and go to his office. Your boss goes straight out and explains that he is married. He is having an affair. Unfortunately, the woman he’s having an affair with is stage five. You need to break it. And he is requesting his services to take care of his “dirty laundry.”

Since working for the company, he has enjoyed the experience. You don’t want to ruin your job. What do you do in a situation like this or something similar? These six steps will help you deal with a strange request.

1. Take several deep breaths, take your time

The first thing to do is not to overreact right away. This can be solved in a win-win way … except the mistress.

Take your time before giving an answer. Let your boss know that this is a lot to take in. Let him know that this difficult request from you should not receive an immediate response and that it takes time, giving him time to consider his options.

2. Assess the pros and cons

After you’ve said to your boss, “you’ll think about it,” the next step is to consider the advantages and disadvantages that result from your boss’s strange request.

Pro’s

• He will look like a team player.
• There could be a financial benefit to you.
• It will show you that you have “courage” and composure.

Cons

• You say no, they threaten to fire you, and they fire you.
• You are assaulted by the mistress, who spits at you and cries making you feel terrible.
• Your wife scolds you for participating, and the rest of your employees think less of you for your unscrupulousness.

Weigh your pros and cons, and think long and hard. You have an 8 hour day for good reason. Use it.

3. Consult a friend for advice

Now if your boss is not a friend of yours on Facebook, you can take him to Facebook and take a survey. State the question as yes or no, and then ask for explanations for the answer. This will help you find an answer.

Also, ask a friend you trust and respect. Someone who has good morals and whom you admire. If they give you an answer that is against the strange request, then go for it.

4. Formulate a planned response

This is where you want to start crafting your answer. Write it down or even record it. You have conceived the advice, you have a hunch, now you are ready to put your answer on paper.

Write down the pros and cons and write down the possible outcomes. Don’t be afraid to form different ways of answering. Write things like, “I really enjoy working here, however, I don’t feel it is appropriate for me to get involved in this situation.” Try alternatives and choose what feels best and most natural.

5. Practice your answer

This is the most important part, besides the answer. Now is the time to practice how and what you will say. Find a coworker to practice your response with and ask for feedback regarding your boss’s difficult request.

6. Obtain evidence, document your answer

You’ve practiced, you’ve gotten your feedback, now is the time to get a tape recorder or make sure your phone can record the interaction.

If things go wrong, you want proof that you are being the victim of something that is not moral. You must document and record anything you think may be illegal.

Now is the time for your answer. It doesn’t matter if it’s a situation like the one above or a less extreme one, a response like this will help you deal with a strange request from your boss. “(Say the name of the boss), with all due respect, this is beyond my qualifications and training. I do not feel comfortable completing this application and personally, I believe that in your circumstance, you should handle this situation yourself since you got into in that “.

All of these six steps, and if necessary, adjusting a few steps on the level of your situation, will help you deal with a difficult request from your boss.