This text is based on an article on Entrepreneur.com.
"That's not my problem."
If your subordinate has a problem, it is your problem too. Listen to subordinates and be supportive in helping them solve their problems.
"Why? Because I say so."
Your subordinates deserve explanations. If you ask them to do something that does not make sense to them, they will not be motivated to fulfil the task well. They will perform much better if you explain the context and rationale for your request.
"That's a stupid idea."
Even if you do not agree with a subordinate's idea, you should never belittle them or tell them it's stupid. On the contrary, you need to appreciate the fact your subordinate has the initiative to think things through and come up with new suggestions.
"I don't have time."
If you always dismiss subordinates by saying you don't have time for them, you are letting them know you're not interested in them and they are not a priority for you. It is probably not necessary to explain that this is a big problem.
"That's not how we do things here."
Just because your company or team does things a certain way out of inertia does not mean this way is ideal. Many managers are surprisingly conservative. Don't stick to the status quo, and if a subordinate initiates a legitimate debate about the team's work processes or suggests a new solution, be sure to take those ideas into consideration.
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