Get the Most Out of a Meeting with Your Boss’s Boss
| Managing up doesn’t stop at influencing your immediate boss. You also need relationships with leaders further up your chain of command, including your boss’s boss. Next time you have the opportunity to meet with them, make sure you use the time wisely. You might follow a 70/30 rule: Aim to speak 30% of the time while allowing your boss’s boss to speak 70% of the time. Use your speaking time to ask questions that showcase your strategic thinking and help you get clarity. For example, you might ask: * What do you believe are the most significant challenges our team should be addressing? * How do you envision our team’s role evolving given the company’s long-term strategy? * Based on your observations, how can I grow in my role to better support both our immediate team and the larger organization? * What trends or changes in the market should we be paying attention to or learning from? * When you envision our company five or 10 years down the road, what are the key milestones you hope we’ve achieved? * Given the challenges our industry faces, what keeps you hopeful? Then, your primary job is to listen. That way you avail yourself of their experiences and insights and can more easily pick up on non-obvious nuances. |
| This tip is adapted from “How to Have a Successful Meeting with Your Boss’s Boss,” by Melody Wilding |
