Tweet

Senior Management and Critical Information

Guest post by: Anne Warfield

Article Overview: When did Senior Management become sacred?

Senior Management and Critical Information

When did Senior Management become sacred? I am amazed how many times I see a bubble around Senior Management that stops people from bringing critical information to them.

So how do you tell them you think their "great idea" is a bad idea?

In order to handle this best you need to start with the facts and then some positive assumptions. (If you are going to make assumptions make sure they are always positive so that you bring good energy in to the discussion.)

1. Start with the positive premise that your Senior Management wants to do the best for the company.

2. They would never want to do anything that would ruin the company.

3. They want to have all voices heard respectfully.

4. No person likes to be told they are stupid in front of a groupor that they don't want to drive great results.

5. You probably know some information they don't that will shed new light on the topic.

6. They probably know some information you don't that may make you think their "bad idea" is a good idea.

7. They hired you because they think you aresmart and you will add value to the team.

So let's start by adding value.

In order to have this come off well you need to do three critical things:

1. Find out what they know that you don't that may make you rethink the idea.

2. Clarify to make sure you understand what outcome they are trying to reach and why they think this will help them reach that outcome.

3. Once you understand theirdesired outcome, recap it for them so they can tell you, "Yes, that is what I am trying to accomplish."

Once you are all in agreement on the outcome that is trying to be achieved you can respectfully talk about what in the idea will make that work and what will stop it from working. You can then move the discussion around to how to implement.

Related Articles
  Sales Training for Senior Manager Performance Improvement
  How Top Management Views Performance Appraisal Systems
  What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chainpurchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 2)
  How to take your thought leadership campaign to market: One – strategic business imperative
  Failure of HQ & Sales to Communicate Effectively
  Functional Leadership Teams
  Employee communication
  Profile Customers to Manage Opportunities
  Senior Care Franchises Poised for Exponential Growth
  Acti-Kare Allows Seniors to Stay in their Homes
  BrightStar Care Franchise Recognized as World-Class
  BrightStar Care in Top 200 of Franchise 500 List
  Towers Perrin Study Discounts Workplace Myths;
  Resource Transparency. Data Accuracy. Reporting Integrity.
  Change Management
  Identifying Future Leaders: Creative Leadership Development Strategies in Tough Times
  You Get What You Reward
  Whose Job Is It?
  Don't Call The 'Underlings'
  How To Choose The Right Law Firm Management Software

Article Tags: communication, leadership, management, presentations



Related Forum Posts
Senior networking names - [quote:27mh7drn]How about Senior Connections [/quote:27mh7drn] I like that one... or Senior Networking.... or Love Life After 50...??
Re: How important is your name? - Hey: A couple of thoughts, here. If your name became the business name and you named your kid the same thing, if the kid resented the career path, he or she could just change the nature of the business! Sell the farm, turn their back on Dad's legacy, and start a communications business with the proceeds (or vice-versa). Get the old guy rolling in his grave before his time. Ha! My Dad is not famous or successful. But he does have my name, almost. I am GT; he is GA. And to be truthful, that's exactly why you folks call me GT! I wanted my own identity, so many years ago I started using my middle initial along with my first name. Even so, a few years ago we STILL had a problem with our numbers in the telephone book. So I added "Senior" to his name in the book and "Junior" to mine, even though I feared my friends would start calling me Junior. They didn't, but what happened was, when people saw the Senior and the Junior in the book, they assumed the "Junior" was MY teenaged son (not) and that I was the Senior, so we still had mix-ups. lol I gave my son the same middle name as mine, but gave him his own unique first name. And even if my Internet Marketing business develops into a Fortune 500 company or some such thing, I know he will want nothing to do with it, legacy or not. Even if he did, I still value giving a kid his or her own unique identity. GT :-]
No B.S. Time Management - A great book I read on Time Management is No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs by Dan Kennedy.
Home Care Business Opportunity - You should not buy a franchise until you review our Senior Care Business Opportunity... Michael Gultz
Re: 365 Foolish Mistakes Smart Managers Make - [quote="litekepr":2v18lglp]This morning's Google Alert held a pleasant surprise. WORTH MENTIONING A List of New Books Compiled by The Management and Government Information Center (MAGIC) Chinn Park Regional Library 703-792-4880Summer 2007 Indicates titles relating to the FISH Philosophy 365 Foolish Mistakes Smart Managers Make Every Day: How and Why to Avoid Them by Shri L. Henkel, 2006 interesting. Is anyone else here familiar with the FISH philosphy? i[/quote:2v18lglp] Congrats on the mention of your book! Hopefully it will drive up sales! For myself, I don't really care for their acronym... MAGIC. Gives people the subtle impression that good things happen at the snap of a finger instead of lots of hard work!


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Ready for a Fresh Image?

How To Calculate A Minimum Fee For Your Services

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.