10 Ways to Make Your Boss Love You

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This article demonstrates perfectly how distracting these gender pronoun issues are. I found myself focusing on "she" throughout. it is more effective to re-write the sentences to remove he or she.
When you bring problems to her, also suggest solutions
When you discuss problems with your boss, offer solutions as well.

KE of OR 11:24AM June 03, 2008

A lot of wisdom in a small space. I know these things work. Especially #10. Many people never think to give their boss positive feedback. And we can all tell the difference between positive feedback and brown-nosing.
My boss is a woman--it was refreshing to read an article without the "singular they" or the s/he switch. Thanks

Linda Caviness of AR 11:16AM June 03, 2008

think you could have added a few more clishes? you corporate creep

of 11:15AM June 03, 2008

Another great article that goes in my "ones to keep close by pile" that can not only be used to facilitate conversations with staff and new supervsiors but also to do a soft check on me and how I am doing. We are all human you know!

Lisa Rosendahl of MN 8:50AM June 03, 2008

Thanks so much Alison, another great insight into boss/worker relationships. I'm forwarding this link to friends of mine who are having communication issues on a Committee.
I'm not really fussed about the gender issue - well do I remember my surprise upon discovering that you were female, even though I am female myself! I think you usually do let the pronouns take turns per paragraph, which I think is nice and equal, but it wouldn't bother me if you had them take turns per article.
Thanks again, keep up the great work!

JessB 7:39PM June 02, 2008

I tend to call my boss "it". :)

HR Wench 7:28PM June 02, 2008

As for the content of this post, I agree. Any time you make something easier for someone else, they will respond favorably to you, and vice versa. You might be doing the world's best job, but if your boss doesn't know, it won't help you.
As for the pronoun gender issue, there's no way to win this one. I think you did the right thing by picking one and sticking with it. It was the best of a bunch of imperfect options:
1) The singular "they" is popular (I use it myself a lot), but it's still awkward and ungrammatical to most ears, so seeing it over and over would become tedious.
2) Using "he or she" or "s/he" throughout becomes annoying.
3) Switching genders from paragraph to paragraph is also awkward.
4) Using "he" exclusively would make you sound archaic and sexist (although it's really no more or less sexist than using "she").

Julie O'Malley of MA 5:30PM June 02, 2008

to comment on that. Would you have felt the need to say something if the author had assumed the boss was male? Somehow....I doubt it. Why not just make use of the suggestions that work for you, and lose the snark?

of MN 5:02PM June 02, 2008