How To Tell Your Boss You Broke Something – 10 Steps

Breaking hearts is, we guess, better than breaking your company’s property. However, how to tell your boss you broke something is a different story.

You don’t want to seem careless or unprofessional. But at the same time, you don’t want to lie about what happened.

10 Things To Do To Tell Your Boss You Broke Something

There’s no easy way to tell your boss you broke something. But being honest and upfront is always the best policy.

Try to avoid making excuses or trying to blame someone else for the accident.

Here are a few tips on how to tell your boss you broke something:

1. Be Honest About What Happened:

If you try to cover up what happened, it will only make things worse. Be honest about how the accident occurred.

Do not miss details like how it felt when the thing broke. Or how expensive it might be to replace.

Your boss will appreciate your honesty, and it will help them understand how to avoid future accidents.

However, it is also unnecessary to go too deep into the details. Such that can cause you trouble big time.

For instance, if you accidentally hit something with a hammer. There is no need to tell your boss that you were angry at the time.

And you took your frustration out on the thing you hit. That would only make you look bad.

2. Take Action To Fix The Problem:

Once you have told your boss what happened, it is time to take action.

If you broke something, offer to fix it or pay for the damages. This will show your boss that you are responsible and care about the company’s property.

It is also an excellent way to avoid getting into trouble. Your boss will more likely forgive you if you take responsibility for your actions.

However, if you cannot fix the problem, be sure to ask for help from your boss.

For instance, if you broke a printer, ask your boss if they know a good repair shop. Or if they can recommend someone who can help you fix it.

3. Don’t Blame Others For The Accident:

Even if someone else was involved in the accident, avoid blaming them.

This will only make you look bad and will not help fix the problem. 

If someone else was involved, state what happened without blaming anyone.

For instance, if you were working with someone else and the accident happened. Say that you were working together when the accident occurred.

But do not say that the other person was to blame. Instead, try to work as a team.

4. If The Other Person Blames You Instead:

However, don’t be a doormat too. If the other person tries to blame you for the accident, stand your ground.

Be assertive and state what happened. Do not let the other person take advantage of you.

For instance, you can say, “I was not the one who caused the accident. We were both working together when it happened.”

And while it is essential to be assertive, avoid getting into an argument with the other person.

That means no name-calling or finger-pointing. Just state the facts and let your boss decide who is to blame.

5. Try To Have A Positive Attitude:

Even though it is not easy to tell your boss you broke something, try to stay positive.

This will show your boss that you are taking responsibility for your actions and are willing to fix the problem.

A positive attitude will also help to ease the tension and make the conversation go more smoothly.

To practice positivity:

– Smile

– Speak calmly

– Avoid making excuses

– Take responsibility for your actions

6. Be Ready For The Consequences:

While it is essential to be positive, you also need to be ready for the consequences.

Depending on what you broke and how much damage you did, you may face some disciplinary action.

This could include a warning, a pay cut, or even getting fired.

If you are ready for the worst, it will be easier to handle whatever consequences come your way.

And if the consequences are not as dire as you thought, you will be pleasantly surprised.

7. Apologize To Boss:

Accepting your responsibility is the first step; now, you need to apologize to your boss.

You should say, “I am sorry for breaking the _____. I will do my best to avoid such accidents in the future.” 

This apology will show your boss that you are genuinely sorry for what happened. And show that you are willing to take measures to prevent it from happening again.

8. Have A Plan To Prevent Future Accidents:

To avoid getting into trouble again, you need to have a plan to prevent future accidents.

This could include being more careful in the future. Or taking extra measures to protect company property.

For instance, if you broke a printer, you could take extra care when using it in the future.

Or you could create a sign that says, “Do not touch this printer.” This will remind you to be careful, and it will also remind others to be careful as well.

9. Follow Through With Your Plan:

Following up is critical. Once you plan to prevent future accidents, you must follow through.

If you say you will be more careful in the future, you must be more cautious.

If you say you will create a sign, you need to make the sign.

Following through with your promises is essential. It shows your boss that you are serious about avoiding future accidents. Change your behavior and stick to your plan.

10. Keep Your Boss Informed:

Last but not least, you need to keep your boss informed. If you have trouble following your plan, let your boss know immediately.

This will show that you are still committed to preventing future accidents. It will also show that you are willing to take responsibility for your actions.

You can get their advice on how to avoid accidents in the future. Telling your boss, you broke something is never easy.

But if you follow these tips, it will be easier to handle the situation.

How To Avoid Breaking Things In The Future

Now that you know how to tell your boss you broke something, it is time to focus on preventing future accidents.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid breaking things in the future:

1. Be Careful With Company Property:

This one is pretty self-explanatory. It would help if you were careful with company property.

Handle it with care, and don’t use it for personal gain. While it may be tempting to use company property for personal use, it is not worth the risk.

You have to remember that you are responsible for any damage that you do to company property.

2. Don’t Take Unnecessary Risks:

In addition to being careful with company property, avoid taking unnecessary risks.

For instance, take the necessary precautions if you are working with dangerous equipment.

Wear the proper safety gear and follow the safety procedures. Don’t take shortcuts or take risks that could endanger yourself or others.

Also, if you are working on a tight deadline project, don’t try to finish it all in one go.

Take breaks and pace yourself. This will help you avoid mistakes that could lead to accidents.

3 Stay Organized And Clean:

Another way to prevent accidents is to stay organized and clean. A cluttered workspace can lead to accidents.

This will help you stay focused, and it will also help you avoid accidents. You can:

 – Wipe up spills immediately and keep your work area clean

 – Put away tools and equipment when you’re done using them

 – Store dangerous chemicals in a safe place

4. Follow The Rules:

Another way to avoid breaking things is to follow the rules. If a rule says you need to wear safety goggles when working with chemicals, then make sure you follow it.

If a rule says you need to clock out before leaving the work area, then make sure you follow it.

Rules are set for a reason, and you must ensure you follow them.

It can help to make a list of the rules you need to follow and keep it visible.

This will help you remember to follow them.

5. Take Your Time:

If you are in a hurry, you are more likely to make mistakes. This can lead to accidents.

So, it is essential to take your time. This doesn’t mean that you should work slowly.

It just means that you should take the time to do things right.

For instance, if you are putting together a piece of equipment. Ensure all the details are in the right place before you start.

And if you are working with dangerous chemicals. Ensure you understand the safety procedures before you start.

If you are not sure how to do something, ask for help. This is much better than trying to do it alone and making mistakes.

Asking for help shows that you are willing to learn and can help you avoid accidents.

6. Be Alert:

It would help if you were alert when you are working. This means being aware of your surroundings and being able to spot potential hazards.

If you see something that could be a hazard, ensure you know how to deal with it.

For instance, if you see a spilled chemical, ensure you know the proper way to clean it up.

And if you see a loose wire, ensure you know how to fix it.

Being alert will help you spot potential hazards, and it will also help you avoid accidents.

Final Word:

How to tell your boss you broke something? Start with being honest about it and try to offer a solution on how to fix it.

Make a plan to avoid breaking things in the future, and follow it.

Be alert and take your time to avoid accidents. Also, try to be more careful in the future to prevent this from happening again.

Last Updated on 9 months by Shahzaib Arshad