What do you do if your boss doesn't understand your ideas?

1 Clarify Intent

When you sense that your boss isn't grasping your ideas, the first step is to clarify your intent. Ensure that your proposals align with the company's goals and your role within the organization. Explain how your ideas can enhance customer satisfaction, streamline operations, or increase revenue. Remember, in hospitality, the end goal is to provide exceptional service, so frame your ideas around this central objective. By clarifying the benefits and relevance of your suggestions, you can help your boss see the value they may add.

2 Simplify Concepts

Sometimes the problem lies in the complexity of the ideas presented. In hospitality management, practicality reigns supreme. Take a step back and break down your ideas into more digestible parts. Use simple language and relate them to everyday tasks or outcomes in the hospitality industry. Demonstrate how these ideas can be implemented in a step-by-step fashion, which will make it easier for your boss to visualize their impact on the business.

3 Seek Feedback

Engage your boss in a dialogue by seeking their feedback. Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to think about your ideas in a new light. This can also reveal any misunderstandings or reservations they may have. Through this process, you'll gain valuable insights into their perspective, and it can lead to a collaborative effort to refine and improve your suggestions. In hospitality, where teamwork is essential, this approach can foster a stronger working relationship.

4 Use Examples

To make your ideas more tangible, provide examples that illustrate their potential effectiveness. Draw parallels with successful initiatives within the hospitality industry or cite analogous situations where similar ideas have proven beneficial. This can help your boss understand the practical application of your concepts and how they might translate into real-world success for your organization.

5 Offer Evidence

In situations where your boss is data-driven, offering evidence can be persuasive. While you should avoid overwhelming them with statistics, you can highlight trends or patterns that support your ideas. For instance, if you're proposing a new customer service protocol, you could reference general feedback or observations from guests that indicate a need for change. This approach shows that your ideas are not just theoretical but are grounded in the reality of the hospitality business.

6 Plan B

If, despite all efforts, your boss remains unconvinced, it might be time to consider alternative strategies. Evaluate if there's a way to test your ideas on a smaller scale or in a less risky manner. Propose a pilot project or a trial period that could demonstrate the effectiveness of your suggestions without committing significant resources. This shows your willingness to be flexible and adapt your ideas to fit within the comfort zone of your boss and the organization.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?