Newest Additions
- Visit the NEW Small Business Resource Center
- Are You Competing With Yourself On Social Media? (Small Business)
- David & Goliath Small Business Strategies: Winning Against The Monster Companies
- Stop Lying To Yourself And Others About "Not Having Time"
- New Article Series: Why Employee Engagement HAs Been A MASSIVE Failure And What To Do Instead
- Eight Ways To Help Your Administrative Staff Support You
- Why You Believe In Wrong, Dumb Or Useless Ideas: Employee Engagement, Learning Styles, MBTI
- Better Team Decision Making: Understanding The Four Group Decision-Making Modes
- Dealing With Present And Future Workplace Challenges For A Better Workplace
- Employee Suggestion Programs Can Backfire: Seven Things To Avoid For Success
- The One Thing, And One Thing ONLY That We Know About Leadership
- Managing Millennials: Do You Have To Do Things Differently
Popular Workplace Topics
- ARTICLES MAIN PAGE
- All Work - No Play: Weird and Wonderful Humor and Satire
- Bacal's Never Ending Interviews
- Change Management & Leadership
- Communication & Conflict
- Complex Systems And Real Life
- Controversial and Social Commentary
- Customer Service
- Employee Engagement: Complete Failure (new)
- Managing Difficult And Problem Employees
- Human Resources
- Management and Supervision/Performance Appraisal
- Performance Management, Appraisals, Goal Setting and Reviews
- Presentations and Public Speaking
- Small Business (General)
- Small Business (The Inner Mental Game)
- Social Media
- Teams and Team Building
- Training and Learning
Do You Need Help With...
- Browse All Our Mini-Guides
- Helping Others Learn: Training, Development and Instructional Design?
- Customer Service Skills and Dealing With Difficult Or Upset Customers
- Communication, Conflict and Public Speaking Skills
- Leadership, Management and Better Employee Reviews
- Building Your Career and Success In The Workplace
Bacal's Books
Boss Management - Get Your Ideas Across For The Boss
Question
My boss isn't particularly receptive to new ideas regarding how to improve things around here. I have tried to approach her several times with very practical improvement ideas, and one time she just seemed bored and uninterested, the other time she started shaking her head after the first sentence I said, and was very unhelpful. Many of us here want to make things better, but it's just like running into a brick wall. Is there way to make her listen?
Answer
The short answer is NO. Actually, the long answer is NO, too. You can't make her listen so you need to make it worthwhile for her to listen, from HER perspective.
Think of yourself as a very low-pressure salesperson. When you approach the boss with a good idea you need to state right at the beginning, how that idea will help her.
Next time you want to approach her, take a few minutes to answer the question "What is driving my boss nuts". Now, figure out how your idea will reduce her frustration. That's what you start with. Here's a little example:
"Mary-Anne, you mentioned last week that you were getting frustrated at the amount of time you have to spend on [whatever]. I think I have a solution for you [short explanation of your idea]. I've done a little research and jotted down a few cost estimates--it shouldn't cost much. I do see a small difficulty with [explain small problem], but I think I know how to get around that. Do you want to give it a try? "
Notice in the example we:
- .linked our idea to the boss's needs and frustrations
- .did some research before approaching the boss
- .indicated we had thought about possible problems
Keep in mind that while you may think your idea is better than fresh rye bread, other people may have a different perspective on it, so it's UP TO YOU to present that idea in a convincing way.
Bacal & Associates publishes a helcard with many more tips on managing the boss so you get heard and establish credibility. Click here for more information and free samples.