Convince your boss

Program words of wisdom:-
If Program’s Gantt Chart content is allowed to change freely the rate of change will exceed the rate of progress.

Program Management needs lots of senior management support and bosses and without it, we often rant and rave telling colleague negative stories. But think again, "did you present in a right way?" to sell your ideas more effectively to your boss?

1. Start off on a positive note
Bringing positive attitude will put your boss at ease to be receptive to your message. Check the "weather" for clues about your boss's mood. Even greeting him "Can I take up some of your time?" and listen to how he replies. Make an excuse to defer the meeting if the "weather" is not good.

2.Present facts and figures, not just opinions.
Opinion can easily be challenged while valid facts and figures will be tough to question. Being unprepared will make you look incompetent and unprofessional. A very high risk to decide to your favour.

3. Empathise with your boss
Imagine this scenario. Your boss receive news from HQ to drastically cut cost. You approach him and say "The old machine is slow while I had quotes for a new machine at US$200K". I am sure the approval is slim.
If you say, "We have confirm orders for 15K pcs for the next 5 months. The old machine is producing 5 pcs/ hour and running 24 hours x 7 days on overtime. The new machine costing US$200K is capable of 30 pcs/ hour on 7 hours x 5 days, without overtime, we will recover our cost of investment within 3 months or 10K pieces and it will be clean profits from there onwards." By providing facts and figures and emphasizing cost effectiveness, you are likely to get your boss approval as he could present the expenses logically.

4. Don't raise problems walkout possible solutions.
Aways have some possible solutions in mind when presenting a problem to your boss. Influence him into agreeing with a likely positive outcome to your solution. Say "Do you think we should.....?". If he says yes, it becomes his idea & you get the commitment, never mind it's your idea in the first place.

5. Get commitment by fixing specifics
Agreement without commitment are wasted efforts! Set your boss a date, time for next meeting, dateline to accomplish, or budget deadline. If it's a big project, make a gantt chart for commitment.

Remember to speak with confidence and conviction projecting yourself as a problem solver to your boss.


Kacak5 Management