Comments on: How to Successfully Sell Your initiatives to Your Boss

By: Akarsh MG

Akarsh MG — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 09:26:50 +0000

@Adriana – Great article.

I am might be late to comment on this article; but what i would like to add in here in even though you create great idea for “buy-in” my personal experience says if your manager is not supportive along with you to “sell” the idea to the management it does not work well to sell it to the clients; if manager is co-operative and supportive this works GREAT.

Also i agree with your point that show your ability to “get management to listen to you” ; i think this works wonder specially if you have customer feedback which shows business impact, your creative ideas to customer will help management to listen to you(this point Aaron has pointed out on delivery and responsibilities)

Final one thing i would say along with your boss; keeping your customer happy will open up great opportunities for additional buy-in.

By: Derek Winter

Derek Winter — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:30:48 +0000

Totally agree with you both. One further thought to add related to Aarons thoughts on delivery. I have found in the past that if we focus on delivery, ensuring that whatever tasks and roles we’re given we deliver excellence, the opportunities for higher profile work, more interesting projects, advancement, responsibility, etc. come to us without having to ask. Contribution is recognised and rewarded. Later in my career, being in positions of management the reverse is true.

By: Adriana Beal

Adriana Beal — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:53:31 +0000

Aaron, excellent related advice about the need to “speak from a position of respect”. No doubt it will be really hard to sell an idea if you aren’t delivering on your current responsibilities (unless your idea is to own up to the problem and offer a credible solution for it:-).

Thank you for adding your thoughts. I’m sure they will help many readers reevaluate their current situation and take steps toward improving their marketability.

By: Aaron Whittenberger

Aaron Whittenberger — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:28:04 +0000

Adriana, very good advice. Understanding your manager’s “framework” as you put it and staying within the Organization’s goals and strategic initiatives is necessary to have any chance of getting a favorable response. Going outside of those two areas is a sure fire way of getting “shot down”. Understanding those two also helps form your “appeal” to get the most favorable response possible.

Another thing I feel is necessary is to “speak from position of respect”. If you are requesting to work on higher profile projects or take a more strategic role within the organization but you can not deliver on your current responsibilities, then your likelihood of success is greatly reduced. “Selling” management on an idea starts with delivery. If you deliver accurate and timely on your current responsibilities, then you gain a position of respect and a louder voice with management.

By: Aaron Whittenberger

Aaron Whittenberger — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:16:21 +0000

Adriana, very good advice here. Understanding your manager’s “framework” as you put it and staying within the organizations goals and strategic initiatives is absolutely necessary to have any chance of having your point heard. Going outside of those two views is a sure fire way of getting “shot down” and understanding those helps you form your “appeal” to get the most favorable response.

One other point that I believe is necessary is to speak from a position of respect. If you are asking to work on higher profile projects or take a more strategic role within the organization, but you can not even complete the work of your current role, the likelihood of getting more responsibility is greatly deminished. “Selling” management begins with delivery. Accurate and timely delivery on your current responsibilities increases your respect and gives you a louder voice within management.