Business advice on etiquette: When you know the answer to your boss's question?

Question

I work in a small family run company as their office manager. I keep track of most of the in-house accounting. Well, my boss next to me wants to know about a statement to be paid that has a note from me on it why it is different than the supplier's statement. Instead of going to me, she talks to her husband and another coworker about the matter (because he was involved in the disputed 4 invoices). The coworker has to come to me to review what we talked about last week about the statement before going to the boss. I overhear everything, but choose not to get involved because the boss did not ask me about it. Would it be rude to jump in and solve the problem before getting 2 other ppl and countless time involved in the matter?

This is just an example of what happens several times throughout the week. Not just with the boss, but overlapping of duties, getting 4 people involved what 1 or 2 could do. It is a very inefficient way of business, and I don't know what I should do.

It doesn't bother me to listen to them talk, as we all know what is going on. It bothers me, because I know she doesn't like me, and I think if I jump in to answer her question she'll find me rude. It's their time they're wasting not mine. I am leaving in 2 months, they are just so inefficient and unorganized.

Answer 1

I work in a very small company as well, and I can hear most things that go on in the office. When I hear my boss ask a question that only I know the answer to, I go around the corner and tell him. But then, I'm very comfortable with the people that I work with. If your boss is uptight, you may just want to keep your nose out of it and let her waste time until she finally comes to you. It really depends on how well you know her, and how comfortable you feel about stressing that it's your work she's talking about.

Answer 2

If you have the answer, let your boss know in writing that you have the information she needed regarding the statement in question, and that you would like to meet with her to discuss it.

When you meet with your boss, let her know that you overheard her asking about the statement, and that you didn't know if it was appropriate to intrude uninvited.

Prepare a proposal beforehand regarding the inefficiencies that you see, but instead of pointing them out, just present the alternatives in the form of ideas that you have that she may find useful. No more. No less.

This way, you are not critical but affirming.

After you tell her what you know regarding her question about the statement, present to her your proposal of ideas that you have prepared for her, that would demonstrate actions she could implement and the results of those actions; and volunteer to implement the actions for her on a trial basis, to see if she like the changes.

This way, you are taking initiative as her employee to help her business become better, allowing you to address the problems that are bothering you. Also let her know that sometimes you are aware of what she needs to know, but she never asks you; and that you could save her a lot of time if she remembers to come to you first in the future. This way, she is now aware that you are an untapped resource.

Remember this principle, the one who sees the problem is the one who is responsible for the solution. So when you see problems, don't just sit there, complain that no one is doing anything about it, and wait to hand off the responsibility to someone else who doesn't care about the problem like you do, you take the initiative to solve the problem.

You're an office manager, you are just as responsible for the success of the business as the owner is. So think like the owner and let the owner know that you would like more responsibility, and the authority to make things happen that would make the business more efficient.

Answer 3

Say it, don't hold back. You are not helping your self or the company if you don't . Just find a polite way to break into the conversation. "I am sorry were you talking about the note I wrote on the such and such..." However honestly I would consider finding a new job.

Answer 4

basically look for the main beside the point one and vote for that quite to revolt against people who think of they are appropriate approximately each and every little thing each and every of the time or maybe each and every so often appropriate ,which no longer a lot of human beings quite are even while they, are, as specific as they could be. and because 15 thumbs up do no longer lead them to appropriate.