Getting Your Boss to Listen to Huge Ideas
As the owner of a company, ideas are always flowing into my office. I want my employees to bring top of the line ideas to me regularly, but I also know that many of these will not work currently. There is a fine line between letting the office become the wild west and empowering the employees to take ownership of various tasks. Managers must be selective about the ideas that they consider. These tips may help your ideas get heard!
- Show Deep Knowledge
Go into your presentation with the big boss overly prepared. You should know the personality of your leader and the questions that will probably arise. Do you have data to back up your grand plan? Have you played out scenarios in your head? Have other companies attempted your plan and have shown success? When presenting these ideas, be analytical on why it will work and be sure to give the when, why, where, and how!
- Timing
Timing is everything in life. This is no different when it comes to workplace concerns. Your plan will likely not be heard as loud and clear when you go into it first thing Monday morning. Plan a day to approach your leader that is not an overly busy day on the calendar. Look at their schedule and plan your big meeting a week or so before. The boss will be more likely to devote time to your pitch rather than squeezing it into a tight 15-minute window.
- Be Direct
Nobody likes ramblers! When someone gives me an idea I don’t want a brainstorming session. I want concise facts, well drawn out ideas, and a plan that will work. When we discussed showing deep knowledge that never means to ramble on for an hour. Rehearsing your speech with a relative or friend is never a bad idea. Being able to surprise your boss with concise preparedness will likely impress them.
- Rejection Doesn’t Mean It’s Over
Okay so your idea was just rejected. That doesn’t mean it’s over! The boss may just want to wait until a later date or need to consider and modify your ideas. Too many young people get discouraged with a simple no. Let the information sink in, re-do your proposal, or move on to the next big thing. Trying to make big things happen in an office is never a bad idea, and I guarantee that a leader will respect you more for it!
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