How to convince a stubborn boss to see your side

So do you need help persuading a stubborn boss to see your side of things? What should one do when faced with such an annoying problem?

Well, you have two options:

1. You could sit down and have a pity party

2. Could you do something about it

This article deals mainly with the latter approach. So without further ado, this is what you can do:

• Don’t get defensive

One of the best tips is not to lock yourself in a shell. Being defensive will only create animosity and prevent you from being productive. Face it: your boss is not going to agree with every suggestion you make at his desk. If you think you can do better, maybe you should consider starting your own small business.

• Go on the offensive

Write down some ways you can counter this problem. One way could be to come up with “ten ways” to improve this or that. If you can show your boss that you are a “team player,” then he will be more willing to listen to you in the future. First, show that you can save the company money or reduce the amount of time it takes to complete a task and they will find you an invaluable resource. By the way, you should be doing this anyway. You never know when a company will decide to cut the fat.

• Make it a collaborative effort

Ahh … the power of groups. Think of it like this: Are you more confident on the streets at night when surrounded by a group of friends or when you are alone? Harness the power of many to your advantage. See if you can’t get your coworkers in your department, and others, to side with your point of view. With them on board, your suggestions have more sticking power.

• Write a letter to your boss

Yes … it’s true, I said it. Write a letter to your boss describing how you feel, and maybe he will see things from your point of view. If you are not sure how to write this delicate letter, get help from your spouse or trusted colleagues. Once you start writing, the energy will flow onto the page. Just be sure to edit and correct before submitting. Print it on parchment paper for an authentic feel.

• Put on your detective hat

Are there competitors who have just launched a new product line? Do your competitor’s websites appear before yours in the SERPs (search engine results pages)? Do your competitors have a blog that is continually updated? What kind of content is in your newsletters? Start your research (ethically, I should add) and prepare a power point presentation for your boss. Compare with graphs and tables how the competition is doing things differently. Show where your strengths are and in what areas they are killing you.

Do these things and I can practically guarantee that the days of having a stubborn boss will be behind you.