What do you do if your boss is resistant to your suggestions?

When your boss seems resistant to your suggestions, it’s important to approach the situation with a blend of patience and positivity. Start by understanding their perspective—sometimes resistance can stem from concerns or priorities you might not be aware of. Have an open conversation where you gently inquire about their hesitations and offer to address any specific concerns they might have. It’s also helpful to frame your suggestions in terms of the benefits they bring to the team or project, aligning them with your boss’s goals. Keep the dialogue collaborative rather than confrontational, and be willing to adapt your ideas based on feedback.

When facing resistance from your boss to your suggestions, the first step is to assess the context in which the resistance occurs. Understanding the pressures, priorities, and objectives that your boss is dealing with can provide insight into their responses. Mindfulness can help in maintaining an objective perspective, enabling you to analyse whether your suggestions might be conflicting with other goals or perhaps not communicated. This assessment will help you understand how to adapt your approach effectively.

Notice the hidden feelings and needs behind the words. When your boss expresses resistance, ask what is the feeling s/he is expressing? What is the need that is below the surface. Investigating the structure of Non-Violent communication can give you a map to discovering feelings and needs in yourself and others which can naturally help you become more compassionate.

After assessing the context, it may become apparent that your ideas need refinement to align better with your organisation’s goals or your boss's vision. Take your feedback seriously, using it as a guide to refine and improve your proposals. Mindfulness can assist in accepting critical feedback constructively, allowing you to detach personal feelings from professional growth and focus on enhancing the quality and applicability of your suggestions.

Listen to your boss and align your ideas with his/her needs. Ask curiosity questions that do not evaluate the "goodness" or "badness" of his/her reactions. Be flexible in your problem solving abilities here, prioritizing his/her resistance as a sign to something deeper.

Communication with proper knowledge and support is the key to good health in a relationship. Resistant to suggestions is a common feature that everyone has faced in life sometime or the other. Here the main thing is to be Mindful and understand the present challenges and reasons due to which it is going on like this, and then it will be all going great with proper direction towards our goals.

I find it’s best to take a lesson from the flow of water, follow the path that lets you sing. Banging one’s head at the resistance within a single workplace/domain artificially contracts us to smaller spaces. Find other more receptive sources for your ideas so your energies are rewarded and nurtured; not stifled.

At times we think we communicate our ideas clearly, however the recipient may not hear so. A need to note that we have our own communication styles and more importantly our own beliefs, values and working styles. An initial rejection of our idea or proposal definitely triggers us, afterall no one likes to be seen as being wrong. When one is triggered, it is difficult to process further. Mindfulness practices helps not only to enhance our focus and non reactivity, it brings us to the present moment reducing further reactivity through a simple action of breath. We can then be more objective, do more actively listening and understand where the other party is coming from. Helps us to paraphrase in case meaning had been received in error.

When encountering resistance, pain, or anger in someone that you want to stay in a relationship with, it's best to listen. It's best to ask questions. It's best to deeply hear what's going on with them. We have all had those moments where we respond too hastily and regret it later. In this case, with your boss, you do want to make the decision to act with attention and awarness!

It's better not to take it personally, do not react to the heat of the moment which will hamper your productivity. Instead, look for other solutions as well and convince them that you are capable of looking at the bigger picture and make a valuable contribution the team.

If direct attempts to persuade your boss aren't successful, consider seeking support from colleagues or other organisational leaders who understand and appreciate your perspective. Building a coalition can provide more weight to your suggestions and show a broader acceptance or demand for your ideas. Mindful listening and engagement with others can strengthen these relationships and foster a supportive network, making your proposals harder to ignore.

Timing can be crucial when presenting new ideas. Mindfulness enhances your awareness of what to say and when to say it. By being attuned to the moods, moments, and broader context within your workplace, you can choose the most opportune times to propose ideas, increasing the likelihood that they will be well-received. This involves patience and the strategic assessment of when your boss is most receptive to hearing suggestions.

Persistence is key, but it must be balanced with respect and professionalism. Continue to advocate for your ideas respectfully, demonstrating their merits and aligning them with the organisation's objectives. Mindfulness helps maintain resilience and a positive outlook through this process, preventing frustration or discouragement from leading to conflict or resignation. By continuing respectfully, you show your commitment and belief in your ideas, which may eventually lead to a breakthrough.