Spend your managers time wisely

💌 237 words ⌛ 1 minute

When you talk to your manager you need to be strategic in which topics you address first. Create a prioritized list of topics and put the one with the most value and leverage on top. For every topic be crystal clear about what you expect from them. Is it input, help, awareness, or to do something?

Why it matters: Your manager has a limited amount of time and attention - as we all have. In a perfect world, they take time for all your topics, but we are all human. They also have their own agenda and tasks they need to be working on. It's your job to bring the right topics in front of them.

Dig deeper:

• When creating your list, think about:

  • What topics has the highest priority for you?

  • What does your manager need to be aware about?

  • What topics have the most leverage to improve things?

• For every item be aware:

  • Do you want an opinion?

  • Do you need a decision?

  • Do you need their support?

• Your manager will notice you are coming prepared and are valuing their time. This will strengthen the trust they have in you, and improve your relationship.

• It also makes sense to have a shared agenda with your manager. So they are already aware of what you want to address, so they can already think about the topics beforehand.

How can you apply this? Let's discuss.

— Daniel