Are you looking for a suitable way to remind someone you don’t answer to them?
Perhaps you’re concerned that “you are not my boss” is too rude or unprofessional in an email.
Fear not! You have many other options, and we’re about to go through them.
This article will teach you how to professionally say “you are not my boss.”
Is It Professional to Say “You Are Not My Boss”?
It is not professional to say “you are not my boss.” It’s not smart to include it in an email, as you could easily offend or annoy the recipient if you’re not careful.
It’s good phrasing since it means that someone doesn’t have any power over you.
However, the are more respectful ways to word this phrase. Therefore, we don’t recommend using it unless the situation is more informal or casual.
Also, you can check out this example to learn more:
You are not my boss, so I can’t do this for you. However, I’ll still see if I can find someone to help.
Pros
- It’s a simplistic way to show that someone can’t tell you to do something.
- It’s direct and to the point.
Cons
- It’s often rude and offensive, and it can cause more trouble than good.
- It’s unprofessional, so it won’t work well in an email.
Well, it’s clear that “you are not my boss” isn’t an effective phrase to use in your writing. So, it’s about time you look into some alternatives to see what might work a bit better.
Keep reading to learn how to politely tell someone to stop telling you what to do. We’ve compiled a fantastic list of synonyms to help you understand what’s going to work best.
What to Say Instead of “You Are Not My Boss”
- You are not my superior
- I’m afraid I don’t answer to you
- I don’t report to you
- I answer to a different authority
- You are not in a position of authority over me
- I have a different chain of command
- I can’t follow orders from you
- You are not my direct supervisor
- I’m not under your management
1. You Are Not My Superior
You should start by writing “you are not my superior.”
Generally, this is a direct and respectful way to indicate that you don’t need to take orders from someone.
Sure, it might seem a bit rude at first glance. But sometimes, it’s important to remind someone that they hold no power over you.
So, you can use this when writing to a department head that doesn’t concern you. It’s a great way to keep things honest when you can’t help them with a task.
Check out the following email sample to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Ms. Kingston,
You are not my superior, but I could suggest some people to help you.
I’m very sorry that I won’t be able to assist you further.
All the best,
Kyle Moses
2. I’m Afraid I Don’t Answer to You
Another way to say “you are not my boss” is “I’m afraid I don’t answer to you.”
You can use this when a coworker is checking your work. If they’re acting like they’re better than you, this could be a good way to remind them that you’re equals.
After all, there’s nothing worse than a coworker trying to police your workload!
We recommend using this to keep things friendly and civil at first. Of course, if the coworker still insists on checking your work, you might need to escalate things.
Feel free to review this sample email to learn more about it:
Dear Milo,
I’m afraid I don’t answer to you, so I can’t change this.
However, I’ll speak to our boss to see what she thinks about it.
Yours,
Ryan Millard
3. I Don’t Report to You
It’s good to use “I don’t report to you” when talking to employees who act like the boss.
Of course, it’s a sarcastic yet effective way to remind someone they don’t have power over you.
So, you can use it in emails when you’re fed up with an employee checking through your work.
It gets to the point quickly and shows you’re not pleased that someone is trying to control the things you do.
Here’s a helpful email sample to also show you more about how to use it:
Dear Alice,
Please remember that I don’t report to you.
There is no need for you to talk to me in this manner.
Yours,
Clark Bronzer
4. I Answer to a Different Authority
You can write “I answer to a different authority” as a professional way to say “you are not my boss.”
This often suggests that you respect someone’s power, but you also don’t answer to them.
So, it can apply when talking to a different department head. While they are a boss to some employees, they might not be your boss.
This is simply a good reminder for the recipient. It lets them know you can’t help them with their request, but it does so in a polite and respectful manner.
So, check out the following email example to learn more:
Dear Ms. Wiley,
I answer to a different authority, so I cannot help you with this.
Nevertheless, I hope you find someone who will be able to assist you.
All the best,
Georgia Murphy
5. You Are Not in a Position of Authority Over Me
Next, we recommend writing “you are not in a position of authority over me” when writing to a coworker who thinks they are the boss.
If left unchecked, coworkers can often try to put themselves into more managerial roles. They’ll try to boss their peers around more, even though they have no actual power.
So, a phrase like this is polite and respectful, but it also keeps your coworkers in line.
After all, it reminds them that they aren’t your boss and you won’t do what they say.
You can also check out this example to learn a bit more:
Dear Aaron,
You are not in a position of authority over me.
While I appreciate your request, I’m not going to act on it.
Best wishes,
Jodie Kim
6. I Have a Different Chain of Command
For a polite way to say “you are not my boss,” try “I have a different chain of command.”
This works quite well when answering to a superior who has no control over your job role.
For instance, many workplaces have different bosses. Each boss tends to cover a specific area or group of people, but they don’t cover everybody.
So, a phrase like this is a respectful way to reply to a boss who doesn’t see over your department.
You can review this example if you still don’t get it:
Dear Ms. Higgins,
I have a different chain of command, I’m afraid.
So, I won’t be able to assist you further with this matter.
All the best,
Joe Demp
7. I Can’t Follow Orders From You
Next, it’s good to be upfront and direct by saying “I can’t follow orders from you” instead of “you are not my boss.”
This is a less harsh phrase than “you are not my boss.” It’s also less negative.
Instead of suggesting that you won’t listen to someone, it suggests you “can’t” do what they’re asking.
So, it works best when contacting a supervisor who sees over another team. While they do hold some power over others, they might not hold any over you.
Also, it’s worth reviewing this example to learn more:
Dear Miss Staunch,
I can’t follow orders from you.
However, I can find a few of my peers who can help.
Yours,
Rihanna Stacey
8. You Are Not My Direct Supervisor
It’s good to use something like “you are not my direct supervisor” in some instances.
For instance, you can use it when reminding a coworker that they have no power over you.
After all, coworkers tend to share the same amount of power in the workplace. So, a direct and formal reminder like this goes a long way when telling someone to keep out of your business.
You may also review this example to learn a bit more about using it:
Dear Alice,
Please remember that you are not my direct supervisor.
Therefore, I cannot do what you’re asking of me.
All the best,
Gus Stanford
9. I’m Not Under Your Management
For the last synonym, we want to go through “I’m not under your management.”
This works well when putting an employee in their place.
It reminds them that they shouldn’t be bossing people around in the workplace. After all, it’s likely that they either have the same amount of power or slightly less than those around them.
Whatever the case, this phrase keeps things respectful and direct.
So, you can use it when you want to professionally remind someone that they’re not your boss.
Check out this example before you go to learn more:
Dear Freya,
I’m not under your management.
So, I won’t be able to complete the task you’re asking for.
Best regards,
Greta Keating