Comments on: Speaking Up To The Boss

By: Dorothy McKinney

Dorothy McKinney — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 23:09:33 +0000

I strongly support talking to your boss, as recommended in the initial answer to this question. I would like to offer an additional avenue for taking your ideas forward, which can be used in either of two cases: (1)after you have tried and failed to have a constructive conversation with your boss; or (2) when your past interactions with your boss have made it totally clear to you that even attempting such a conversation with your boss will make things worse. By the way, I think the only way it can be totally clear that a conversation with your boss will make things worse is if you have tried more than once, using all of the advice given in the initial answer to this question, and discovered that your boss not only is not willing to listen, he also acts worse after each conversation.

So, what is the additional avenue I am suggesting? In all but the smallest organizations, you can find one or more other parts of the organization (which do not report to your immediate boss) which are also affected by the risks/problems you are trying to resolve, or the opportunities you are trying to take advantage of. You can talk to someone in one of these other parts of the organization, to see if there is a way that this other part of the organization can take advantage of your idea for improvement. If you do this kind of reaching out on a continuing basis, over time you will build up a network of colleagues across the organization who you can partner with to bring improvement ideas to the company.

Sometimes it can be obvious what other part of the organization to contact. For example, if you are in a design and development organization, and your idea has to do with improving how you buy parts or services from a supplier, you could talk to someone in the part of the organization responsible for purchasing, or supply chain management, or whatever that function is called in your company. If your idea could potentially improve the quality of the products or services your group produces, you could reach out to the part of your company responsible for quality control or testing or customer support.

If it is not obvious to you what other part of the company might be a potential supporter of your idea, you can use your idea as a reason to get to know more about your company. You can ask people you know for names of others in the company (who don’t work for your boss) who may have insight into how the company operates. Then you can go to each of these people in turn, and talk about the risk, problem or opportunity you see, and ask for their insights. If you ask each of these people you talk to for the names of 2 – 3 other people they think it would be worth your time talking to about this issue, over time you are very likely to discover whether there is anyone in the company you can work with to pursue your idea.

By: Carmen

Carmen — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 03:02:08 +0000

In addition to this scenario. Let’s say the denying of good opportunities to improve the business continues and the boss still chooses to proceed with certain actions that may not be profitable to the organisation. The reason from the boss may not be intentional but just due to the fact that the boss is simply just not good at managing; although has some excellent qualities in areas of the business. Simple business management standards are not being attended to.
You do your job and so on and rectify as things come up etc… you then get an opportunity to voice your (and your teams) experiences in this environment along with advising your suggestions for improvement with another above your boss…
What to do you?
Do you first meet with your boss….and discuss: “we have discussed these issues before but the pattern continues… and now I just want to tell you that I am going to present this idea, suggestion etc… to so and so…”
Appreciate your opinion and other comments.
Thank you.

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 20:01:53 +0000

Good approach described here. One small wording change I would suggest is in point #1 – Frame the challenge in the best possible way.

Where it says “make sure you come across as curious and helpful rather than frustrated and judgmental” I would change it to be “make sure you are curious and helpful rather than frustrated and judgmental”. The words “come accross” makes me think that your actions don’t need to be genuine.