What do you do if your decision-making conflicts with your boss's preferences?

1 Understand your boss's style

The first step is to understand your boss's decision-making style and preferences. What are their goals, values, and priorities? How do they process information and evaluate options? How do they communicate and implement their decisions? You can observe their behavior, ask them questions, or use tools like personality tests or decision-making frameworks to get a better insight. By understanding your boss's style, you can adapt your own approach to match their expectations and avoid misunderstandings.

2 Communicate your rationale

The second step is to communicate your rationale for your decisions clearly and effectively. Explain how you arrived at your conclusions, what data or evidence you used, what assumptions or criteria you considered, and what benefits or risks you anticipated. Use language and formats that your boss can relate to and appreciate. For example, if your boss is a visual learner, use charts, graphs, or diagrams to illustrate your points. If your boss is a verbal learner, use stories, analogies, or examples to demonstrate your logic.

6 Balance your style and preferences

The sixth and final step is to balance your style and preferences with your boss's. You do not have to change or sacrifice your own decision-making style completely. You can still use your own methods and techniques that suit your personality and situation. However, you also need to be flexible and adaptable to your boss's style and preferences. You can adjust your approach, communication, and behavior to fit their expectations and needs. By balancing your style and preferences, you can build trust and rapport with your boss and achieve better results.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?