Your boss is unresponsive. How can you get the answers you need?

Making sure the right channel is used is key to getting in contact, especially those that are unresponsive. Establishing communication styles at the beginning of a new working relationship helps to mitigate any unresponsiveness in the future. Addressing any concerns in 1:1's as well has been super helpful to make sure everyone is on the same page!

Identifying your boss' preferred mode of communication is key. If you know they don't keep their phone on them, a call or text is not helpful. However, if they generally reply quickly through Teams/Slack/etc, start there. This is a simple conversation to have during your onboarding process, so you can be well-prepared for any potential fire drills you may encounter in the future.

It is important to build your own resources for your role. This could include links, employee handbooks, SOPs, SMEs (in yours or different departments), etc. At my company, we have SOPs and policies for almost anything someone in my role could encounter that I can reference in the instance I can't get an answer from my supervisor. Additionally, you should consider urgency - Does this need an immediate answer? If so, in this age of technology, there tends to be no answer that can't be found through Google or some other platform - This is considering it's a general ask and not company specific in most cases. Once you are able to make an educated move for the situation, you can always debrief with your boss later and get their feedback then.

Generally your urgency is not your bosses urgency and this is the fundamental challenge with the hierarchy of decision making. This is when important turns into urgent. The key here is forward planning. Often we do the same Tradeshows annually. The Boss generally wants to hear ROI and success stories following the show. So plan your following year as you debrief from your current year, and seek empowerment for the decision making within budget and scope.

If you come across a situation where communication between you and your boss wasn't ideal, it is very important to have a conversation with them about what could have been done differently. Think of ways that you could have improved the situation and hopefully your boss will do the same. Do this before putting the blame onto others. In my opinion, clear communication is the absolute key to a well-run team. If someone is consistently unresponsive or evasive in their communication, ask a lot of questions, have back up resources, and take notes when you do get new information from them. Arm yourself with as many resources as as you can get so you can still effectively do your job when you don't have the clearest of instructions.

Step 1: Shift Gears: If emails vanish in the inbox abyss, try a different channel. Schedule a quick chat (in person or virtual) to keep things concise and get verbal confirmation. Step 2: Frame it Right: Don't just ask open ended questions. Present well-researched options with a clear recommendation. Make it easy for your boss to say "yes" or suggest tweaks. Step 3: Follow Up (Nicely): Send a brief recap email after the chat summarizing key points and next steps. This keeps everyone aligned and serves as a helpful nudge for action.