Avoid Challenging Authority to Bring Your Ideas to Life After a Difficult Manager
A difficult boss can make it difficult to implement your ideas. If you want your ideas to be heard, frame your presentation in a way that doesn’t seem like a challenge to their authority.
As the blog Tips 99u points out, challenging your boss’s ideas and challenging your boss are two different things. If you can tell your boss that you respect their authority and ultimately make the final decision, you increase your chances of getting your message across:
The point is to remove any competition with power from the table. When you want to challenge a decision, it is often perceived as a challenge to authority. Most people who exhibit Level 1 “I’ll tell you what to do …” behavior do not respond well to challenges to their authority.
Your boss may not always agree with your opinion if you agree in advance with his final decision, but you can at least get around any unnecessary power struggles. Keep in mind that most influencers don’t like to have their authority challenged, whether you have a good idea or not. By labeling your presentation as collaborative rather than explaining why your boss is wrong, you can smooth out the conversation.