So....even if I didn't want Dan Stone to hear me...I know I've discussed #1 and #4 in the office before....whoops! My bad....

1. "I need a raise."

Never enter salary negotiations talking about what you need -- because of
rising costs or a new expense, for instance. Your employer doesn't care about
your financial problems. However, management probably does want to reward
success and keep high-performing employees satisfied. A raise request should
always be supported by evidence of what you've achieved for the company -- along
with information about what people with your responsibilities typically
earn.

2. “That just isn’t possible.”

Always speak
to your boss in terms of what can be done. For instance, rather than saying “We
can’t get this done by Friday,” say “We could definitely get this done by
Monday, or if we brought in some freelance help, we could meet the Friday
deadline.” When you talk to your boss, think in terms of solving problems for
her, not in terms of putting problems on her plate.

3. “I can’t
stand working with ____.”

Complaining about a coworker's
personality usually reflects more poorly on you than on the coworker. Don’t make
these kinds of conflicts your boss’s problem. Of course, management is interested
in problems that jeopardize the company's ability to function. If you have to
speak to HR about a problem such as a colleague's threatening, illegal or
unethical behavior, keep your tone professional and the focus on work -- not
personal issues.

4. “I partied too hard last night -- I'm so
hung over!”

Buck up and get through the day with some
ibuprofen, extra undereye concealer and coffee. But don’t share the sordid
details of your night on the town with your boss. Even if you have a friendly
relationship, he’s just as likely to react with (unspoken) disdain as sympathy.
Maintaining a solid veneer of professionalism will pay off when it's time to
discuss promotions.

5. “But I emailed you about that last
week.”

Alerting your boss to a problem via email doesn't absolve
you of all responsibility for it. Bosses hate the "out of my outbox, out of my
mind" attitude. Keep tabs on all critical issues you know about -- and keep
checking in until you hear a firm "You don't need to worry about that
anymore."

6. “It’s not my fault.”

Are you a
whiny 8-year-old or a take-charge professional? Assume responsibility and take steps to fix a problem that you
did, in fact, create. And if you are being wrongly blamed for a problem, saying
“Let’s get to the bottom of this” or “What can we do to make it right?” is much
more effective than saying “It’s not my fault.”

7. "I don't
know.”

If your boss asks you a question you can’t answer, the
correct response is not "I don't know." It's "I'll find out right away."


8. “But we've always done it this way."

You may
find yourself with a new boss who wants to try new things -- and the best way to
present yourself as a workplace relic is to meet change with a "we do it this
way because this is the way we do it" attitude. When a brainstorming session
takes place, be part of it and stay open to new ideas. If you have concerns
about a new idea's feasibility, say "I think for this to work, we will have to…"
Don't kill new ideas with negativity.

9. “Let me set you up
with...”

Avoid the urge to play matchmaker for your single
boss. The potential risk far outweighs any potential benefit. In modern
workplaces, hierarchical structures are often less rigid, and bosses will often
end up in semisocial situations with their direct reports. Smart workers will
draw the line at "oversharing" -- definitely something to keep in mind if you're
connecting to your company's managers on social networks like Facebook.