Should I tell my boss I’m pregnant?

I work for a company that is currently undergoing a merger with new positions being created and responsibilities shifting around. I just found out that I’m pregnant with my second child. I’m worried that if I make it known now that I’ll be taking maternity leave, I’ll be out of the running for a juicy new assignment. I’m inclined to keep it a secret as long as possible to keep my professional options open, and deal with my boss’s feelings later. What’s my best bet?

A. I think you should put all your cards on the table. This isn’t simply about your boss’ feelings. One of the primary functions of bosses is to help nurture the careers of the people they manage. If yours is interested in doing that—and let’s hope for his/her sake, as well as yours, that he/she is—then he/she could be a valuable ally in your quest for a new assignment.

So, tell him/her : You’re going to have another child, but you don’t want that to put you out of the running. It’s unwise to keep him/her in the dark, not least of which is because he/she may already be thinking of recommending you for a new position. If he/she does do that without knowing your true situation, it could create all kinds of awkwardness later on. The fact that this is your second child is important. Presumably, you can make a persuasive case that, since your first baby didn’t throw your work off track, this one won’t either. When you’re trying to convince higher-ups of this, it’s far better to have your boss on your side. But if you mislead him/her now, then why would he/she be? 

Affairs of the heart

Q. Help! I recently found out from my assistant that my boss is telling people that I’m having an affair with one of the other assistants. This is completely untrue, and I am shocked to learn that he’s saying it. Apart from the obvious fact that my boss is trying to damage my reputation here, and the fact that maybe I should think about leaving, should I just ignore this slanderous talk?

A. Whoa. Don’t start buffing up your resume, just yet. Slinking quietly away to some other job is going to look an awful lot like an admission of guilt, and it could come back to bite you later on. Instead, make an appointment to speak with your boss privately, or just take him aside if you have the chance, and say something like, “I’ve heard there’s a rumour going around that so-and-so and I are romantically involved. It’s not true, and I’m really concerned about the effect this kind of gossip could have.”

You don’t need to let on that you know the rumour came from him. Then, wait to see how he responds. You may be able to embarrass him into stopping the slander. If not, then you and the person you’re allegedly involved with will have to join forces and go over his head, either to his boss or to the human-resources department, or both, and get it on record that this rumour is untrue. Simply saying nothing and hoping the gossip will fade away is not an option. Unless nipped in the bud, these things have a way of getting out of hand—turning, for instance, into messy lawsuits and countersuits. Don’t let it get that far.

Making cold calls

Q : I’m 24 years old and in my second sales job. I’m currently an insurance producer. I started this job three months ago, and I’m in the phase of prospecting, cold calling, and sending pre-approach letters with a brochure. The main road block I run into every day is that my prospects don’t even want to give me the time of day unless they have a current problem or if their insurance is coming up for renewal. Any advice?

A. First of all, don’t get discouraged! There are opportunities for your company with these prospects under two circumstances: One, they currently have a problem, and two, their insurance is coming up for renewal. Those are the times you want the appointment. Appointments are so valuable they should not be wasted on just collecting information or seeing if two companies are a match. Appointments are the first step in the direct-selling process.

A couple of other things to think about. First, see if you can meet prospects for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Everyone has to eat, and if you can meet with them during these times, they will feel more comfortable meeting with you because it won’t be cutting into their schedules. Second, remember in any sales situation, if there is not a need, it is your responsibility to create one. Be a source of information for them on any insurance-related topic. If you can be a resource for them or make their business more profitable, you have a better chance of meeting with them. One tip  if someone if being difficult: “All I’m asking for is a chance, for ten minutes. Didn’t anyone ever give you a chance?”