How open are you at work?

[Kelly]

I wan't sure how to word this. During evaluations or casual/serious meetings with your boss, how open are you about problems you are having, your general feelings about your job, your workplace, your coworkers, etc? As in: are you completely honest and tell it how it is or do you selectivly share things? Do you think your answer depends on how good your relationship is with your boss? Do you think how you deal with the above helps or hinders you?

[bunkie68]

This has been a topic of much discussion at our workplace lately. It came out in a survey that a large percentage of employees didn't feel free to speak their minds, for fear of retaliation, being branded as a troublemaker, etc. Me personally, I say what I think - I figure if I don't tell my manager, he won't know about the issues, and if that means I'm a troublemaker, so be it. To my knowledge, though, it hasn't gotten me into any trouble. I think it probably does depend in part on how good your relationship is with your boss - if you don't get along well or feel comfortable with that person, you're a lot less likely to open up to him or her.

[Joan]

At my job, I don't really share my true feelings because I don't think my boss cares. The few times she did ask, I was truthful. BTW, We have terrible morale at my job. Joan

[JennyB]

I am truthful about how I feel about my job and where I am going with it. I want them to have every opportunity to help me so that when they don't I can say, "I have been telling you for two years that I am bored. Why are you shocked that I am resigning?" :lol:

I am lucky that I don't have to complain about my co-workers. For the most part, we all do our jobs and do them well. We all slip up every once in a while but we are human....bound to make mistakes.

Overall, we are all pretty honest. Although, there is one area that it doesn't really matter. That is the whole "Being in the know". Select members of my department do not feel that we need to be in the know. We have brought it up a couple of times but it doesn't seem to matter. It will be what eventually runs me off.

[Alyssa]

I have a very good relationship with my director and my VP (so my director's boss) and I'm pretty open with both of them. And they are pretty open with me too, which is a positive in my book.

On my director in particular (so who I directly report to)...I've had some issues with coworkers that I've carefully brought up, for example, and sometimes she's said to handle it myself (fair) and other times she's been both a sounding board and a help with HR. I've worked with her for 4+ years now and she's been my boss half of that time, and our department is small and I can't really hide anything...and I don't really feel the need to either.

It also helps that I feel that I'm good at my job and I feel fairly valued, so I feel more confident bringing up issues, esp. when I feel they are constructive and for the greater good...not just to make trouble.

[Mary]

I can be open up to a point. It is very political where I work and there a number of people that are not trustworthy. By that I mean, if you tell them something they will use that against you, but behind your back. Within that context I'm open. I try to be politically correct in what I say, but I pretty much suck at that, so I'm probably more open than I would like.

Mary

[Shanna]

I can talk to my direct boss, but I don't think I could go to the partners with anything, really. I haven't been there for that long (almost a year) so I don't feel that I've quite got the seniority. On the other hand, I'm the only person in our firm that does what I do, so I'm fairly secure in my job :nod:

[bunybomb]

I'm open and truthful with my Director but not so much with my direct report manager. I work with a small team of 7 and we are always honest with each other.

[schwanda]

I'm in a unique work situation. I'm doing a special 2-year training program. I have one BIG boss and 2 other bosses but they are all interested in making sure I get good training and have a good experience. My BIG boss seems great (I've only been here since July 1st). He has a great sense of humor and seems good to work with. I've heard that you have to make sure you stay on his good side but that doesn't seem TOO hard. I wouldn't want to "complain" to him but if I had a concern, I would feel comfortable talking to him. One of the other bosses seems a big intimidating so I wouldn't go to him. The other boss is AWESOME! He tells me all the "gossip" about this place and has helped me navigate the ins and outs. Again, I wouldn't want be a complainer but I know I could totally go to him with problems. He's almost more of a friend than a boss (he was in my exact position about 4 years ago).

Amanda

[Jeni]

I tell it exactly how it is, prbly too much :lol: But I'm in a very relaxed office!

[Lyndee]

I'm very fortunate that my company encourages a good work-life balance-- so when it comes to feelings about work, discussions are normally geared towards how it fits in with the rest of my life.

And of course, I will always tailor my conversation tone and content on what type of relationship I have with the person I'm talking with. I do feel very free to talk but I am extremely careful about what I say.