What do you do if your boss is out of touch with your work?

While you assess this situation ,you may come across various factors like lack of interest, lack of knowledge, too preoccupied with other projects, lower importance of your project, improper and irregular communication etc. But ultimately one has to ensure that the project one is working on is visible and is updated to seniors in a time bound manner. Best way is to send pre-agreed short timely reports and do a pre-planned meeting once in a while to present the update and give more background and share the way forward. Whole idea of doing a regular and structured communication is to bring all stakeholders including your boss at par on your project.

As a strategy advisor & business consultant, I advocate for transparency as the cornerstone of addressing misunderstandings with leadership. Before reacting to a perceived lack of understanding from your boss, assess the situation thoroughly. ?? Is the issue stemming from a genuine lack of interest, or could it be a matter of being preoccupied with other responsibilities? He/she hired you, so knows exactly all your good qualities. Just be transparent and assets the situation with respect and professionalism.

If you sense you and your boss are out of sync, it's time for reflection and a conversation. It helps to understand the source of the disconnect. Analyze the communication dynamics: Are you sharing enough about your projects? Is the message getting lost? Understanding these nuances allows you to adapt your strategy for reconnecting. Communication isn't just about increasing the frequency of your updates; it's about ensuring those updates are meaningful and transmitting the key information relevant to your boss. This tailored approach fosters a more productive dialogue, bridging gaps and enhancing mutual understanding and respect.

As a strategy advisor & business consultant, I emphasize the importance of preparation and factual presentation when initiating dialogue with leadership about engagement in brand strategy work. ?? Approach the conversation with a calm and professional demeanour, focusing on constructive feedback rather than confrontation. This proactive and solution-oriented approach demonstrates your commitment to solving the issue while respecting their time and responsibilities. ?????

It is important to provide regular updates explaining the "why" and the impact your work has made. Maybe sending regular progress reports and go through them in brief check-in meetings would change the perspective. Sometimes even taking your boss to a relevant conference where third party experts talk about the topic can open his/her eyes. Showing successful cases that were done for other stakeholders can be useful too.

Building rapport with the boss generally helps to establish a strong working relationship based on trust, mutual respect and transparent communication.