Issue #13 - Making it Easy For Your Manager to Say “Yes”
Make your managers easy option: "yes".
15 Effective Tips to Convince Your Boss to Say: “Yes”!
Frame your suggestion to match your boss’s goals - make sure you know what your boss’s goals are and then present your idea as a way to achieve those goals.
Pay careful attention to your boss’s problems - by understanding the problems your boss faces, you can frame your idea as a solution to those problems.
Have a clear outline of the problem and solution - keep it clear, simple and precise, don’t overload your boss with information.
Build a reputation as someone who delivers - it’s easier to say yes to someone who delivers, than it is to someone who is seen as a risk. Make sure the scope of your idea matches the scope of your reputation.
Take advantage of FOMO - Doing something new is risky, not doing something that competitors are doing successfully is seen as riskier.
Pick your moment - Sometimes it’s a good time to ask, sometimes it’s not.
Look around for inspiration - find and share inspiring stories of the success of your idea at other organisations.
Build a coalition - find allies in your team and organisation who will help you champion and promote the idea. It’s easier to back an idea that many people support.
Use data to tell a story - find some data that supports your idea and present it in a compelling narrative. Don’t forget to tie it back to your boss’s goals and problems.
De-risk the decision - Find ways to reduce the risk of saying yes. For example…
Experiment first - carry out a small scale experiment to test your idea and demonstrate success. Use the data you gather to tell a story.
Offer multiple paths to adoption - make it possible for your boss to go all in or just put a toe in the water, an incremental approach will seem less risky.
Offer different options - give your manager a choice of solutions. For example, we can do it now with this investment or with half the investment it will take a year.
Know how to pitch you boss - learn when your boss is most open to new ideas and how they like to have them presented. For example they’re less likely to consider an idea when they’re stressed and busy or if you ambush them. Your 121 might be a good place. They might prefer an informal chat first or a one page briefing they can digest asynchronously.
Champion your idea - Sometimes getting your boss to yes is just part of the battle. Champion your idea throughout its lifetime and continue to build and nourish the coalition to support it.
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