You're struggling to get your boss to listen to your ideas. What can you do?

You have some brilliant ideas for improving your market research projects, but your boss seems to ignore or dismiss them. You feel frustrated and undervalued, and wonder how you can get your voice heard. In this article, you'll learn some practical tips on how to communicate your ideas effectively, overcome common barriers, and persuade your boss to take action.

1 Know your audience

Before you present your ideas, do some research on your boss. What are their goals, priorities, and pain points? How do they prefer to receive information: verbally, visually, or in writing? What kind of evidence or arguments do they find convincing? By understanding your boss's perspective, you can tailor your message to their needs and interests, and avoid wasting their time or attention.

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Giovanni Alfonso Huanqui Canto

Docente ESAN Posgrado Graduate School of Business.‎ en ESAN Posgrado Graduate School of Business.‎
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Enfoca tus ideas en soluciones concretas y beneficios claros para la empresa, presenta datos y ejemplos concretos que respalden tus propuestas, y busca momentos estratégicos para compartir tus ideas de manera efectiva y persuasiva. ¡La clave está en la preparación y la comunicación asertiva!

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2 Prepare your pitch

In order to craft a compelling pitch, you need to have a clear understanding of what your boss wants to hear. A pitch is a concise and persuasive presentation of your ideas, emphasizing the benefits, risks, and costs. To organize your pitch, begin with an attention-grabbing statement, question, or story. Then, explain the current situation and the challenges you face in the market research. Afterwards, present your solution and how it addresses the problem while adding value to the market research. To validate your solution, provide evidence with data, facts, examples, or testimonials that demonstrate its feasibility, effectiveness, and impact. Finally, finish with a clear and specific request for your boss to approve, support, or implement your ideas.

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Giovanni Alfonso Huanqui Canto

Docente ESAN Posgrado Graduate School of Business.‎ en ESAN Posgrado Graduate School of Business.‎
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Prepara un resumen ejecutivo claro y conciso de tus ideas. Solicita una reunión específica para presentar tus propuestas. Busca aliados dentro de la empresa que puedan respaldar tus ideas. Utiliza ejemplos de casos de éxito o estudios de mercado relevantes. Prepara una presentación visual impactante para respaldar tus argumentos. Sé proactivo y busca oportunidades para compartir tus ideas en momentos clave. Demuestra cómo tus propuestas pueden generar beneficios tangibles para la empresa. Establece un plan de acción detallado para implementar tus ideas con éxito.

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3 Anticipate objections

No matter how well you prepare your pitch, you may still encounter some resistance or skepticism from your boss. They may have questions such as how your idea will affect their budget, timeline, or resources, or how it will align with their strategy and objectives. Additionally, they may be concerned about the impact on clients, competitors and stakeholders, or if it differs from or improves on existing practices. To overcome these objections, it is important to anticipate them and prepare responses. Acknowledge their point of view and show that you are open to feedback and discussion. Reframe the objection in a positive or neutral way and emphasize the benefits or opportunities of your idea. Respond with relevant and specific information, examples, or data that counter the objection or show how you can mitigate the risks or challenges. Finally, confirm with your boss if they are satisfied with your answer, or if they have any other concerns or questions.

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4 Follow up

After you pitch your ideas, don't just wait for your boss to get back to you. Thank your boss for their time and attention, remind them of the value and urgency of your ideas, and provide regular updates on your market research projects. Additionally, ask for feedback, input, or guidance from your boss to show that you're willing to learn and improve. Following these steps will increase the chance of your boss listening to and acting on your ideas. Furthermore, it will build trust, rapport, and credibility with your boss while demonstrating your market research skills and value.

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5 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?

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Tatiana Samarova

Product Manager | PSPO 1 | SaaS, Delivery, B2C, D2C | Digital Transformation | Currently Driving D2C Product Delivery at La Française des Jeux
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If your boss isn't receptive to your ideas, try finding alternative ways to present them, such as through written proposals or during one-on-one meetings. Additionally, seek feedback from colleagues or mentors to refine your ideas before presenting them again. If the situation persists, consider discussing your concerns with your boss in a respectful and constructive manner to understand their perspective better.

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You're struggling to get your boss to listen to your ideas. What can you do?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Know your audience

2 Prepare your pitch

3 Anticipate objections

4 Follow up

5 Here’s what else to consider

Market Research

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You're struggling to get your boss to listen to your ideas. What can you do?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Know your audience

2 Prepare your pitch

3 Anticipate objections

4 Follow up

5 Here’s what else to consider

Market Research

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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