Do you constantly get emails and articles describing how the
best leaders and bosses are the ones who listen to their employees and make
them feel valued? Do you ever wonder
exactly who these bosses are and where to find them?
Innovation is a word that gets passed around a lot, but can
be difficult to embrace. If you have a
new innovative idea, it can be hard to put it into action. The reality is that most senior managers have
mounting to-do lists and a limited amount of time; however, there are certain
measures you can take in order to have your ideas reach and be listened to by
senior managers.
Always address issues that are top of mind. If your manager has concerns about something
and you may have a solution, begin by saying “I know you’ve had some concerns
regarding [X], I think I’ve thought of a way to help improve…”. You also want to cut to the chase. If you went into your senior manager’s office
to discuss something, then discuss it. You won’t accomplish anything by being
vague or digressing into other things.
Do not be afraid of getting personal. In an age where the text message has just celebrated
its 20th anniversary and information is transferred via Twitter
instead of the 6 o’clock news, meeting someone in person can seem like a lot of
effort. If you are serious about having
your ideas heard, that little bit of effort can sure go a long way. Meet your manager in person in order to
achieve a higher level of immediacy and appeal.
If you’ve tried in the past to get an idea across and were
unsuccessful, don’t let that discourage you from trying again. If you want to revisit an old idea, try to
ask management more open-ended questions like “How should we move forward with
[Y]?”.
When it comes down to it, there is always power in
numbers. Try to promote your idea within
the office and talk to the people who will be affected by the idea. If you gather the input of others, a sense of
ownership will develop in the office, and the idea will likely flourish.
I always used to use email as a go-to form of communication. I felt it was both more convenient and less invasive. What I have come to know now is that it is also a lot easier to ignore.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't until I faced with a situation that I felt so strongly about that I addressed it in person and saw immediate results that I realized the true value of face-to-face communication. If you want to be heard, it really is as simple as talking to a person to make sure that they are hearing you.