The Art of Conversation in the Workplace

By Dr. Erica Xu & Prof. Xu Huang

Broaching an issue with your boss calls for preparation at the best of times — even more so when expressing concerns or making suggestions about something important. Thoughtful communication requires putting your opinion forward in a way that will be well received, whether it’s having the awkward conversation about a team member not pulling their weight or procedural errors.

Two studies explore whether employees are more likely to express opinions publicly when they view an issue to be important, as opposed to having a one-on-one chat. They investigate how communication is affected when a manager seems to be open and in a good mood.

If you’ve ever considered the opportune moment to bring up management issues, the weekly board meeting may be prime time to maximise chances of a favourable outcome. Your boss is likely to respond in a way that makes them seem likeable if you bring this up in front of other staff. The more benefit an employee stands to receive, the more likely they are to bring it up in public.

This tactic is not without cons though, as voicing opinions publicly may be construed as threatening, evoking defensiveness from an employer. The team member could unwittingly create the impression that they challenge authority, and risk being stigmatised as a troublemaker. In contrast, those seen to have the social sensitivity to take the private approach may be favoured for helping bosses ‘save face’.

The studies also touch upon whether speaking up in a public setting is more effective in achieving the desired outcome. Results show that employees are hesitant to speak up in front of colleagues, despite it being an effective way to get their boss’ attention. For an employee to bring up a topic publicly, they need to believe that the benefits of having the conversation outweigh the risk of bringing it up in the first place. Being confident that your boss is not only open-minded, but also in a good mood trumps all other factors. It’s the combination that makes us feel safe and comfortable enough to have the discussion.

Perhaps the lesson here may be less about how to get to what you want from your boss, but rather how to be a better manager. Employers should be able to read subtle cues of team members, and recognise that issues voiced in a public way carry a lot of weight. If leadership effectiveness is measured by proactive employees, then providing a safe space to speak up and maintaining emotional balance at work is key!

Reference:

¹ Xu, E., Huang, X., Ouyang, K., Liu, W., & Hu, S. (2020). Tactics of speaking up: The roles of issue importance, perceived managerial openness, and managers' positive mood. Human Resource Management, 59(3), 255-269.