Beat the Boss is billed as a game to relieve pent-up workplace aggression, but let’s be honest: Sometimes, you still need your voice heard. Many managers create an environment where contrary opinions are squelched, but no matter where you work, you need to feel free to contribute your ideas.

Here’s how to tell your boss what you really think — without getting fired:

1. Time it right

If your manager already looks pissed off, it’s probably better to wait for another time. Also be mindful of meetings, projects and other big events on your boss’s schedule. It’s probably not the best idea to tell your boss everything he’s doing wrong as he’s on his way to an important presentation or speech, unless you’re planning on filming an epic “I Quit!” YouTube video.

You may have a boss who’s always in a bad mood. In that case, there’s no better time than the present to discuss his attitude with him.

2. Pick your battles

It’s OK to criticize your boss, but it’s best to do it one-on-one. Joining in on a break room bitch session could be dangerous. The business world is filled with sharks, and you never know when something you say could make it to the manager’s office.

There’s a stark difference between someone with initiative and personality (who companies want to keep on staff) and dissenters who destroy the company from within. You don’t want to develop a reputation as a backstabber.

3. Support your ideas with facts

Just because you think something is a good idea doesn’t make it so. (Click here to tweet this thought.) If you tell your boss you work more productively when she’s not around, you’d better have an hour-by-hour breakdown showing the correlation.

But even if you bring the facts, there’s no guarantee management will seriously consider your idea. Be prepared in the event the conversation doesn’t go your way.

4. Be playful and gracious

Graciousness and playfulness are attractive qualities in people. These qualities build trust, and when you hit an inevitable rough patch with your boss, that trust will come in handy.

When approaching your boss with criticism, keep your tone friendly and playful. It sometimes helps to reference a movie or TV show you both enjoy to illustrate bad behavior while keeping the conversation light.

It’s also helpful to be self-deprecating. Conan O’Brien is the king of self-deprecating humor, and he gets away with insulting so many public figures because he’s not afraid to take jabs at himself. Keep an eye on all the late-night hosts, comedian roasts and morning radio shows. Practice mimicking the humorous tone they use when insulting celebrities.

Just to be clear, humor doesn’t have to negate the criticism you dole out. In fact, humor can keep your boss from going on the defensive and lead to a more productive discussion.

5. Keep it clean

While playful jabs at coworkers help foster a creative and trusting environment, watch your mouth. People aren’t robots. Even if they know you’re joking, your coworkers might be offended by certain taboo subjects.

Remember you’re at work — not on stage at The Improv. Avoid offensive jokes and swear words to keep it professional. You’re not Samuel L. Jackson, motherfu —

6. Know when to stop

The scariest part of flying is the takeoff and landing. Criticism is no different. The anticipation can be overwhelming. But once you start, it’s easy to get on a roll like you’re giving an Academy Awards acceptance speech and telling people off when you should be thanking them.

Say your piece, and move on before you say something you might regret later. Remember what goes around comes around, and you’re not without faults yourself. Treat people (even your boss) the way you’d want to be treated, and don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.

If you offend someone, apologize and redirect. If tensions heat up, table the discussion for another time.

Rather than bottling up your work rage until you get home (and snapping at your significant other), take responsibility by giving your boss a much-needed reality check and improving the office for everyone. When done well, standing up to your boss can help you release frustration, bring problems to your boss’s attention and maybe even earn your boss’s respect.

Nicolas Gremion is the CEO of Free-eBooks, a popular online source for free ebook downloads, resources and authors. Nicolas is a culturally curious traveler and entrepreneur who lives in Costa Rica with his wife and his dog Frankie.

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The post How to Give Your Boss Constructive Criticism and Still Keep Your Job appeared first on Brazen Life.

It’s not easy to stand out in the job-hunting crowd. Even if you do all the right things — networking, customizing your cover letter, and letting your true self show in the interview — often there are so many other candidates that it’s difficult to show why you’re the best choice.

So why not establish yourself as an expert in the field you want to work in? You can do this in a variety of ways; via a blog, public speaking or the vehicle we’re talking about today: by writing an ebook.

Why ebooks are a good investment of your time

EBooks provide an opportunity to be published far more easily than the traditional publishing process: they’re quicker to produce, easier to distribute and cheaper to make. (And for those of you who are still dying to send your photo to recruiters, you can embed multimedia.) This is a huge boon when getting “published” is a new form of street cred. When people are on talk shows now – whether they’re actors or physicists – they’re always introduced as “Big-Time Rich Person, author of Super Important Book You Should Buy.” The fact that they’re authors outshines everything else they’ve done.

It also can be easier to achieve big numbers in the ebook world. With a bit of elbow grease, it’s not unfathomable to get thousands of ebook downloads. With that many people reading your words, your stature as an expert in your field is established; you’ll carry that aura of wisdom forward. (It looks pretty darn good on a résumé, too.) Just like a great industry blog, an ebook can convince people who’ve never heard of you that you know what you’re talking about.

How to produce a relevant ebook

When writing an ebook, go with what you know. You could start with something you know jack about and dedicate the next five years of your life to learning everything there is to know about it, but your lack of judgment will surely be disturbing to future employers. Whether you’ve been working in the automotive industry or doing underwater basket-weaving for the last 10 years, focus on that.

Once you have a general topic in mind, figure out what will attract the most attention. Check out:

• Social media: What’s trending? What will your friends not shut up about?
• The news: Don’t focus on a short-term event, but if you’re inspired to write about something lasting (like how to survive a financial crisis), go for it.
• Current issues your clientele are grappling with: If you’re employed or ever have been, you’ve run into issues that could easily be resolved if people just did something differently.
• Google Insight and Google Trends

Once you’ve started, use social media to engage your target audience. They can provide you with valuable input, feedback and suggestions.

How ebooks can get you hired

Besides being an obvious résumé booster, an ebook tells employers several things about you:

1. You have experience and knowledge in the field, and you’re dedicated to and interested in the topic.
2. You are goal-oriented and an achiever; you’re a self-starter who doesn’t need people managing you to meet a goal.
3. You have crucial skills they need: writing, research and customer recognition.
4. You have a good understanding of public relations and marketing. In fact, your eBook can garner you PR ops that may bring your new employer your way.
5. You have a lot of contacts in the industry. As you engage your audience, you’ll inevitably expand your social circle within your field. Your networking during the writing process can even land you a job.

Case in point: a freelance writer I know was unemployed and wrote an ebook on how to create valuable content. Within two months of its publication, she had offers from two different content farms who’d simply stumbled across her ebook, which demonstrated exactly what she had to offer those companies.

Another guy who works as a management consultant generated so many leads from his ebook (where his contact information was provided) that he doubled his client base in a year.

Before you get desperate enough to dress up in a chicken costume and stand outside your dream employer’s office, write an ebook on a topic you know a lot about, preferably one that companies might want to hire you to help them with. Positioning yourself as a problem-solver and a self-motivated worker will bolster your candidacy – and it looks a heck of a lot better than chicken feathers.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out Brazen’s ebooks!

Nicolas Gremion is the founder of Paradise Publishers Inc. He started online in 2006 with a single website, www.Free-eBooks.net. His newest venture is Foboko.com to serve the popular desire people have to be published.

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The post How Writing an Awesome EBook Can Help You Land a Job appeared first on Brazen Life.