8 Ways to Persuade Your Boss to Say Yes When you really want to hear yes from your boss - whether its a proposal for a new program, permission to telecommute or the go-ahead on ordering that new computer - you can maximize your chances by following these eight tips. 1. Make it easy for your boss to say yes. If you come to your boss with a proposal thats only partially thought-out or one that would require significant work from her or others before it could move forward, youre presenting obstacles to a yes. Another obstacle is being unclear about exactly what youd like her to approve: If you simply say, Id like to find more ways to be involved with our strategy planning, she will have to figure out what those ways could be. But if you say, Id like to attend the teams monthly planning meetings, youre giving her something specific and easier to OK. 2. Get the timing right. If your company is in the middle of cost-cutting or your manager just got reprimanded by her own boss, now probably isnt the time to make a special request. Make sure youre considering the full landscape that your boss is dealing with before you make your request. 3. Lay out the business case. Your proposal should explain whats in it for your company, not just for you. So for instance, if youre asking to telecommute on Fridays, dont just explain that it will make it easier for you to pick up your kids from school. Its fine to mention that as context, but you should also point out that youll get more done because youll be working during the time youd otherwise be commuting and will end up putting in more hours than if you were working in the office. 4. Show that youve thought of pros and cons. If you only lay out the reasons in favor of what youre requesting, youll leave your boss in the position of having to think about and point out the disadvantages. But if you make it clear that youve thought through both sides and clearly understand the pros and cons, your credibility will increase and your argument will be stronger. Related to that... 5. Preemptively offer solutions to the downsides. If you dont acknowledge the downsides and offer solutions to them, youll leave your manager to resolve those concerns herself, which makes your request less likely to be granted. So, for instance, if youre asking for a training class that isnt in the budget, you might point out that two specific skills you will gain from the training will save the department from hiring outside contractors in the future. 6. Understand the answer might need to be no for reasons that have nothing to do with you. Managers sometimes have to turn down reasonable and worthy requests because they have to deal with three more pressing requests first, are restricted by bureaucracy above them or cant grant your request without granting five similar ones from your co-workers. Taking the same broad view that your manager has will help you better understand a no if you get one, and it can also help you craft a better proposal to begin with. 7. Ask for an experiment, not a lifetime commitment. If your boss seems hesitant to grant your proposal, ask for a limited-time experiment, such as trying telecommuting one day per week for a month and then revisiting it at the end of that time. An experiment is much easier to OK than a permanent policy change. 8. If the answer is ultimately no, find out what it would take to change that. You will sometimes need to accept a no, but its reasonable to ask about what could make that answer different in the future. For instance, if youre turned down for a raise, ask what youd need to accomplish to earn one. Or if theres not money in the budget for new software now, ask when youd need to approach her by to get it into next years budget.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 11:17:58 +0000
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