Management Tip of the Day: Get Your Boss to Say Yes

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile JULY 31, 2012 Get Your Boss to Say Yes If you have a great idea that your boss won't likely approve, don't ask for permission. At least not at first. Instead do the following: Take a few initial steps. Act quickly with the means at hand before you ask for approval. These steps should be easy to execute and help you gather information on the idea's viability. Let your boss know. Give her a heads up that you're exploring a new opportunity in your off-hours. And then gauge her reaction. Make small requests. When you need resources to move your idea, ask your manager for small things that are (at least at first) within her realm of acceptable loss. With risk-averse supervisors, you need solid evidence that the idea will work before you put all your cards on the table. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "How to Get Your Boss to Say Yes" by Leonard A. Schlesinger, Charles F. Kiefer, and Paul B. Brown. Read the full post and join the discussion:» Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Who do You Want Your Customers to Become? HBR Single According to MIT innovation expert Michael Schrage, if you aren't asking this question, your marketing and innovation efforts will fail. In this latest HBR Single, Schrage provides a powerful new lens for getting more value out of innovation investment. He argues that asking customers to do something different doesn't go far enough — you must ask them to become something different instead. With practical tips and real-world examples from Google, Facebook, Starbucks, and Apple, Who Do You Want Your Customers To Become? will liberate you and your team — and turn your innovation efforts on their head. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Get Unstuck When Innovating Choose the Right Leadership Approach Set Ground Rules for Your Global Team Make Your Presentation's Visual Aides Easy to Follow Don't Dismiss Critics of Change Start Your Team on the Right Path Conduct an Informal 360° Maintain Momentum for Your Change Effort Manage Your Team Indirectly Know What Your Customers (Really) Do Best All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing HBR's Morning Advantage The Harvard Business Review Morning Advantage delivers the latest business ideas from beyond HBR.org directly to your inbox every morning — and it is free! Sign up today >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)