Striking a conversation with your chief boss is tricky. You usually have limited time to put your point across, you can't predict every question you'll be asked, and no matter how well you have performed, you often walk away from hisher office wondering how well you performed. It is a lot like walking in for your first job interview.

But unlike an interview, your opportunity to talk to the higher-ups is often unscheduled. You may run into them at the elevator at the same time, or perhaps get dragged into a meeting to discuss a current assignment. This makes things a lot more intimidating. So how do you avoid putting your foot in the mouth in unexpected crucial settings like these

Well, all it takes is some preparation and tact to ensure you feel more confident after these conversations. Avoid these five common errors professionals make when talking to head honchos and you are good to go.

USING TIME TO UPDATE

Too often, people use their one-on-one with the big boss to run down laundry lists of updates on projects, when that information could easily be shared over email. You're wasting precious time that could be spent more productively on actual interaction talking through challenges that you're facing, receiving direction at work, formulating strategy and getting feedback. In fact, such meetings serve as a perfect setting for you to discuss with the main boss what's going well and what could be done better. But don't go asking for it. Gently put forth, `so, how do you think the project is doing Are there areas that we can improve on' Or say something simple as, `I'd appreciate your thoughts on how I could approach the client more effectively'.

NOT FILTERING YOUR IDEAS

Time with the bossman is not for free, which can make it tempting for you to utilise those precious moments to share every good idea that you have ever thought of. Avoid this like the plague. You will seem like a hound and leave a terrible impression behind.

A good way to get the higher-ups to listen to you is to use the time you're given both productively and tactfully. For instance, if you're called into a meeting on one project, don't bring up another unless it's rel evant or related to the one you are discussing. Although you may be a bank of ideas, by doing this, you may seem eager to please. Just focus on doing a great job answering the questions you're asked, and in a follow-up email mention that you have other ideas you'd like to discuss and find a suitable time with them to do so.

DISCUSS WORK DURING HAPPY HOURS

Another important point to bear in mind is to avoid sharing your work-related thoughts and ideas when you are socialising with the boss outside the office premises. Your ideas will fall on uninterested ears at social settings. This is not only unfruitful, but also annoying to your boss. Why bother him with office stuff when he's just enjoying his drink

ATTEMPT TO BE ONE-UP

Getting time with the main boss is definitely an opportunity to mildly show off and prove how valuable you are to your company -it's a great chance for you to be vocal about your prowess. But don't do so at the cost of others. For example, when talking about a recent project, if you downplay a colleague's contributions or sell them as your own, you don't seem bright; you seem like a manipulative opportunist.

This same rule applies to your boss. Even if the big boss seems whimsical to you, it is not your place to tell himher that. Do not outsmart them. One has heard instances of people trying to downplay the role of their supervisor because they think it'll put them on the fast track to promotion if they show they're smarter than their boss. This is unprofessional and uncalled for. Not only will this sort of talk displease your boss when word gets back to him or her, it'll really make you seem like a childish snitch.

However, in cases when you are meeting your chief boss specifically to report issues with your supervisor, that's a different story altogether. Still, we would advise, approach these conversations as professionally and honestly as possible without getting too emotional and sounding too bitter.

BEING TOO MODEST

Luckily, it's not just the bad times when you'll find yourself one-on-one with the big boss it can also be the best of times.Yet, this can pose its own set of challenges. How do you take praise from a higher-up without seeming too proud and obsessed with your own achievements For that, give credit where it's due. If a bunch of interns were invaluable, for example, don't mince words or cover up for their incompetency. Not only will you appear like a team player, but it will be understandable when you request their assistance in the future. Just don't give all the credit away. If you worked hard on a project, say it. By doing this you are not seeming like a credit-hog, but some subtle self-promotion doesn't hurt. Know that if you want others to acknowledge your hard work, you have to first recognise the hard work you put in.