How to Convince Your Boss
That your idea is awesome
After our last round table with intrapreneurs from various companies, including ABN Amro Bank, Suitsupply and Schiphol Group, we got inspired and wanted to share their lessons on how they got their boss to agree to try their ideas. So here are five lessons from our panel of experts.
1. Start by reading
You already know why your idea is brilliant and why it will boost productivity by a factor of 50 or turn every colleague in the company into a super employee. But your boss doesn’t. You have to convince her/him and in doing so you’ll have to know how to read her.
What keeps her busy? What can’t she stop talking about? What type of words does she use and which metaphors does she appreciate? Pitch your idea as if you were her pitching to her boss and you might find yourself lucky enough to get the time and money to develop your plan.
2. Focus on the results
Nobody likes failed projects. Sure they are important because you learn from them, but if you you tell your boss your project will fail, you know she’ll shoot it down immediately.
Wait, now why would you tell her your project will fail? You won’t, but that’s what she might hear when you explain what you’ll be doing. Instead of focusing on the process, focus on the results a successful experiment will generate and she’ll see the benefits instead of the obstacles.
3. Dare to tell your boss she’s wrong
You know how your boss has this fantastic plan that you’re supposed to carry out? But then it’s not so fantastic after all.
Having the guts to tell your boss she’s wrong may just be the right move. Sure it’s not always the easiest. Especially if your boss is stubborn, convinced of her own idea and perhaps not the nicest person to begin with. But in a world of yes-men, she might respect you for standing up and give you the proper attention for your suggestions.
4. Carry out experiments instead of making business models
You’ve come up with a great idea and now all you need to do now is make a fancy business model. Only, by the time you’ve put a team together and drafted a 30+ page document, everyone has lost their enthusiasm and you’re not sure it’s going to work.
As my colleague Mats argued earlier, experiments are a great way to find out whether your idea is as good as you think and keep up the enthusiasm needed to convince the person in charge.
5. Surprise!
Lastly, sometimes the best way to get your boss in the right mood is to surprise her entirely. Come up with a stunt, get her to experience your plan instead of showing her a Powerpoint presentation.
Perhaps if you get her on the wrong track for a minute she’ll consider your suggestion instead of declining it just because that’s what she always does.
Tommie Leisink is Project Manager at Professional Rebel. He makes sure our bootcamps and startup tours run swiftly, moderates meet-ups and design kick-ass banners and flyers.
Get in touch with Tommie: LinkedIn
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