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 Q How can I communicate better with management?
A It’s not easy to work for someone who doesn’t listen to your ideas or ask for
your contribution. Here are four tips to help improve your communication with your superiors:
Speak your boss’s language: Frame suggestions with a business slant — an obvious impact on the bottomline
(business objectives, sales quotas, customer satisfaction ratings). Listen carefully to your manager to
uncover what is important and speak to that.
Remember, as the communicator, it is your responsibility to convey your message, not the other way
around.
Document it: When you have something important to say, write a memo or e-mail outlining the pertinent
information. A written note providesa reference of your ideas; your seniors may respond more readily to
visual documentation.
Find allies: If you think your idea has merit and you have tried to convey it without success, find others
whoendorse it and may have influence. Or, pitch the idea as a team — numbersspeak volumes.
Is this the right leader for you? Most people need to be recognized to stay motivated. If your
relationship with your superior starts affecting your self-esteem and motivation, ask yourself if working for
this type of person is right for you.
Jo-Anne DuBois is the senior organizational performance consultant at DDI Canada
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