My Boss Is Taking Too Much Interest In My Personal Life. He Is A Good Person To Work With But This Habit Of His Is Annoying And Intrusive. How Do I Deal With It?

You will need to find a way to tell him. If he is a good person but sensitive, it is just about finding the correct approach for communicating. He probably thinks he is showing a concern and interest in your personal life without realising he is being intrusive. Maybe it is his style and no one has pointed out that they are uncomfortable. The next time he asks questions why not deflect with humour? Laugh, say it’s a boring topic and introduce another topic of interest. See if he takes the hint. In case it doesn’t work, you need to find the right moment to tell him. Keep your tone friendly and tell him that you really enjoy working with him and you respect him but you don’t enjoy talking so much about this area of your life and it would be great if you could discuss other things with him, as there is so much that you want to learn from him.

Please understand that the primary requirement of working in an organisation has to be supported & fuelled by an ecosystem that respects dignity. Be sensitive to your own self before being sensitive to others. And hence, write an e-mail to the person voicing your concerns. The mail could contain content that expresses your discomfort & displeasure along with how you would like it to be. The mail conveys seriousness, becomes a proof that you have documented it and above all- passes on a gentle yet firm message. Use words that convey, not provoke.

It is not so professional of him to be probing in to your personal life and may be prudent that you set boundaries with your boss. If you are not comfortable, there is no reason you should subject yourself to this intrusion. Please know that it is okay to take care of your self and be firm. No one is asking you to be aggressive and hurtful. Just be honest and assertive, everyone appreciates honesty. May be suggest that you go out for coffee and have a heart to heart discussion with him. If this is the only issue niggling you in your relationship with him then resolving it might arrest it from festering into a mammoth one. Nip it in the bud.