How to get your manager to work for you
Hi there,
Today I’ve got some pointers for you on how to make effective use of your manager. It’s a topic I continually get questions about. And now that many of us are working from home, having a clear line to manager or boss is more important than ever.
Maybe you recognize this pattern:
You have a problem or foresee a risk. But you don’t have the expertise to take on the problem yourself. (Or perhaps you do, but others determine whether this issue gets prioritized.) So what do you do?
You let someone else know about it, and then you wait while nothing happens. Meanwhile, your problem is still a problem. And now you’re frustrated on top of it because your initiative was ignored.
Take a look at these two scenarios. One: You work at a big soft drink company that uses returnable bottles. Two: You have a job that’s way too busy. How brilliant would it be if your manager responded like this:
Should our managers do better? Absolutely.
They can do more to help you draft better proposals. They can do better at putting themselves in your shoes. They can do a better job of conveying why your suggestion doesn’t fit in with company strategy.
But you can do more, too.
1. Propose a solution
We’re all overloaded. Everyone has too much on their plate. That’s true for you and your coworkers, but it’s just as true for the people hearing about your issues. Here’s a glimpse into the mind of a manager:
You can get rid of a lot of these questions for your manager, or at least make them easier to answer. How? By proposing a solution instead of presenting a problem. Like this:
Lots of folks fail to return their bottles for deposit. I have an idea that will get 20% more bottles back. I’ll need a week to work out the details and a budget of €10,000.
I have the feeling I’m responsible for all kinds of things. I most need a solution for responsibilities X, Y, and Z. I could try passing all three on to Malik – would take me a day or two, tops. That would give me some breathing room.
Now it’s far simpler for your manager to weigh the costs and benefits of your idea.
2. Adapt your message to fit the listener
What makes you excited about your proposal is not necessarily what your listener is waiting to hear. If you want to get them on board, you’ll have to adapt your story. Here are some ideas that can help:
Know what’s important to your listener and adapt your message to their needs. Say you do have the feeling you have too many responsibilities. That’s not necessarily your manager’s problem. But the speed and quality of your work are things that matter to them very much. Consider wording it like this: “I have too many responsibilities, and it’s starting to affect the speed and quality of my work.” Odds are your manager will now see the urgency of the matter.
Not long ago, I heard about the pyramid principle. It’s a simple idea: Start your argument with your conclusion. Next, take the time to lay out your case. Your ideas deserve a full pitch, but by starting with the proposal and the conclusion, your story is more accessible and you may save your manager time. If there’s one thing managers like, it’s saving time.
Make your proposal smaller. If your big ideas aren’t getting any traction, then try making them a little smaller. Instead of a week, ask for a day to work out a pared-down version of your plan. See if you can achieve some meaningful results with a smaller budget. Little successes are a chance to earn trust for your next, larger project.
Make your proposal shorter. One thing that’s true of just about all communication: the shorter the better. French philosopher Blaise Pascal once wrote at the end of a long letter, “I have made this [letter] longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter.”
Writing succinctly isn’t easy. It takes energy, just as reading and understanding long texts takes energy. Want faster and better responses to your ideas? Spend more time on your own writing to save the reader time and energy.
Put key information in your email message, not in an attached file. Busy people may just have time to read your questions and proposals quickly and not pore over additional attachments. If you must attach a file, make sure you state the gist of your proposal in the email itself.
Let me hear about your experience working with managers. What’s worked for you?
Have a good week,
Rick