Here's how you can navigate a boss resistant to change or new ideas.

3 Reflective Listening

Once you've established empathy, employ reflective listening to further the conversation. This involves mirroring your boss's thoughts back to them in a way that shows you are not only listening but also understanding their point of view. This technique from Motivational Interviewing helps validate your boss's feelings and can lower their defenses, making them more receptive to considering alternative perspectives, including the changes or new ideas you're proposing.

4 Elicit Change Talk

In Motivational Interviewing, 'change talk' refers to the person's own arguments for change. When speaking with your boss, encourage them to express what they might gain from adopting new ideas or practices. Ask open-ended questions that lead them to consider the positive outcomes of change on their own terms. This self-motivated reasoning can be more persuasive than any external argument you might present.

5 Develop Discrepancy

Creating a discrepancy between your boss's current situation and their goals can be an effective strategy from Motivational Interviewing. Highlight how the current methods may be hindering progress towards their objectives. By gently guiding your boss to see this gap, you encourage them to think critically about the necessity for change and how new ideas could bridge this divide.

6 Support Self-Efficacy

Finally, bolster your boss's confidence in their ability to embrace change. In Motivational Interviewing, this is known as enhancing self-efficacy. Reassure them that they have the skills and resources needed to implement new ideas successfully. By affirming their capabilities, you not only empower them to make changes but also strengthen their trust in your support and guidance.