What did you say..
Dude, slow down cause I can’t understand a thing you're trying to say to me! I’m having a major issue trying to take directions from my supervisor at work. He speaks with a heavy Asian accent that’s really hard to understand especially when it get’s busy and he’s in rush to get things done. I think he’s a cool guy and a good boss so I try to be real patient and polite when asking him to kindly repeat himself. Most of the time I don’t even ask and try to guess what he want’s me to do but that’s getting old and I can tell he’s starting to get annoyed with me. I thought about bringing it up with the higher up’s but I’m at a major disadvantage because I’m a white guy and fall in a “racial majority” by default wherever I work so I don’t want to be labeled a racist for bringing up something like this. I like this job and I don’t want to create any problems but this is a roadblock for my performance and advancement opportunities with this company if I can’t understand 80% of what my boss wants or expects from me. How can I address my concern diplomatically without raising any cause for discrimination?
Just change jobs or if possible in your company ask for a transfer.
The guy is not intentionally speaking bad English. He thinks he is speaking great English .
Either lean to listen better, or hasta la vista baby...
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HI Jose, I say ask him to lunch. When there outside of work. Ask him politely to slow down a little when he speaks to you. Simply say the truth. You have a difficult understanding his accent when he speaks fast. The truth works my friend. Good luck!
I worked with a family business of people from India so I definitely understand where you are coming from on this situation. I managed to work there for 2 yrs only and was extremely miserable the whole time. I learned a valuable lesson; I will not work for those kind of people again!
maybe you should, give him english lessons.he reads that little red book to much.
Have a one on one, maybe a lunch, perhaps a cocktail after work! It will be a private setting that will allow less tension more-so you both could be yourselves off the clock: Mature selves per say. Express with respect of the concerns you have, and go from there. Maybe, you could both take an English class: Tutoring for transitional foreigners'....
This is a very interesting post. People don't typically think of being white as being the minority, but in your situation this certainly appears to be true. I agree with the others' suggestions about talking with your immediate boss (the one you are having a difficult time understanding). I would let him know that you are having a difficult time understanding him and that it is causing difficulties in your job performance. Tell him you have an idea that may cut down on the miscommunication by you repeating back to him what you think you heard him say and if it is incorrect then this gives him the opportunity to slow down and repeat what he wants you to do. If you just repeat back to him what he said without communicating to him what you are doing, he may misunderstand your intentions.
Talk to your immediate boss first. If the problem does not get resolved, then go up the chain of command and let them know you tried to resolve the issue and explain what you did to offer a resolution.
Good luck!
There is a "communications" technique which MIGHT help you. It's called things like Active Listening or Echoing/ Basically, you try to say back to him what you thought you heard him say. It could go something like this: "Right, boss, you want me to ____ and then _____. Did I get that right?" That gives him a chance to either repeat, maybe more slowly, his instructions/ But it communicates that YOU may have made the mistake, not HIM. No racism there.
Language barriers are very real and deserve the attentions of good busimrss management. I do agree, any and all assignments or discussions should be in print. Do not accept the notion that pronunciation differences in the english language are not barriers to audible understanding. This is not in any way racism and should always be a strong consideration in a successful business model.
Ask him to slow down when he speaks. I have always been a supervisor and that would help me improve when speaking to others I would appreciate understanding why you might not always understand me.
how long have you worked for him? because I have found normally the longer your around someone the easier it is to understand their accents. might try making a conscious effort to change how you listen if that makes any sense. and listen more openly?? I know we get frustrated then and that kinda shuts us down I think too.