Management Tip of the Day: How to Handle Your Conflict-Averse Boss

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 FEBRUARY 11, 2013 How to Handle Your Conflict-Averse Boss Do you have a manager who won't advocate for you or your team? Is she afraid to say no to requests from above? Here are three ways to get what you need from even the most conflict-avoidant boss. Focus on problem solving. If you need to talk about a difficult issue with your boss, focus on the problem, not people. Offer specific suggestions about how you might solve it. Gather supporting evidence. If you want your supervisor to use her authority on your behalf, give her everything she needs to build her case: assemble data, write drafts, and zero in on how your request fits into larger unit or organizational goals. Put it in writing. If your boss dreads face-to-face conversations, send him e-mails and brief documents outlining what you need. This will make it easier for him to engage in a productive conversation with you. Today's Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across. Buy the book and learn how to manage people who don't report to you » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across Ebook Now Available Are your working relationships working against you? To achieve your goals and get ahead, you need to rally people behind you and your ideas. But how do you do that when you lack formal authority? Or when you have a boss who gets in your way? Or when you're juggling others' needs at the expense of your own? By managing up, down, and across the organization. Your success depends on it, whether you're a young professional or an experienced leader. The HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across will help you advance your agenda — and your career — with smarter networking, build relationships, persuade decision makers, collaborate more effectively and much more. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Get the Parental Leave You Want Avoid Technology Glitches at Your Next Presentation How to Respond to a Customer Revolt Don't Let Failure Ruin Your Dreams Divide Your Writing Project into Manageable Tasks Know If Your Candidate Is Serious About the Job Reach an Agreement by Seeing It Their Way Build Trust on Your Virtual Team Before You Write Anything, Know Your Readers The Right Way to Give Your Boss Bad News All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations HBR Guide to Better Business Writing HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> 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 © 2013 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)