What to say at work when it gets hard
Saying no to your boss, pushing back on a deadline, asking for a raise, taking a rough review. Each guide gives you the first line to say, what the other person will probably say back, and how to answer it.
- How do you ask a coworker to cover your shift?Ask for the exact shift first, then give one reason or offer a trade. Plus what to say when they ask "why not someone else?"
- How do you ask for a raise when your boss says budgets are tight?Ask for a specific next step with a date, backed by one piece of evidence. Plus how to answer "not this year" and title-only offers.
- What do you say when a coworker dumps their work on you?Hand the task back without a fight: name who owns it, decline the takeover, and offer one small, time-boxed bit of help. Exact words inside.
- How do you give feedback to a coworker who gets defensive?Name the moment, what happened and what it caused, with no labels. Then handle the hurt reaction without taking the feedback back.
- How do you respond to a harsh performance review?Don't defend every point. Own the part that's true, ask for one example, and get a clear picture of what good looks like by a date.
- How do you say no to extra work from your boss?Decline the extra task in one clear line, name what you are protecting, and offer an owner and a date. Scripts, likely pushback and replies.
- What do you say when a coworker takes credit for your idea?Correct the record once, calmly, in one plain sentence, and ask to be credited next time. Exact words and replies to the usual brush-offs.
- How do you tell your boss to stop micromanaging you?Offer a bounded trial instead of asking them to back off: what you'll own, what you'll flag, and when they'll see it. Plus replies to "I like to check."
- How do you tell your boss a deadline will slip?Lead with the new date, give the cause in one line, then the recovery plan. What to say, what they'll say back, and how to answer.
Practice it out loud
Reading the words helps. Saying them to someone who pushes back is what makes them stick.
Start a live round