How to be persuasive in communicating with his superiors: 7 working tips

Konstantin Gorsky, Design Lead at Intercom and former design director of "Yandex", tells how to present your idea to the head and to be heard.

Kostya Gorski

Design Lead in Intercom, former design director of "Yandex". Several years teaching interface design at MSU and MAI. In its Telegram-channel Design & Productivity She writes about design, productivity and life.

One day in the life of every professional there comes a time when you have to communicate at work with "high command": customers, top managers and business owners. Sometimes it is given hard. It may even seem that you do not understand or do not take seriously.

Here are a few tips to help you look convincingly and achieve desired.

1. Is not opposed to specialists and non-specialists

We are all just people, and, apparently, working or going to work on the same project. Talk about its essence.

2. Do not go to the head with a problem

Bringing the problem should be always together with the decision. If you come to the decision - you speak the language of the listener. Then the decision is already possible to discuss possible even his perepridumat - this, at least, interesting. If you come with a problem without a solution - you're just annoying.

3. Prepare for a meeting

In general, all meetings would be good to prepare for, but if it is assumed to meet with the high command, the you can not do "homework": navigate the conversation topic and be prepared to answer any question. Even if it is expected that the meeting will only take 5 minutes. Most of it is easy to predict the questions you can ask in advance. And come up with good answers.

4. Immediately ozvuchte purpose of the meeting

I hope everyone is clear that the goal should be clearly formulated. If you have a presentation - it should be clear what you want from the first slide. No need for any lyrical podvodok, save all the time and go straight to the point.

5. Reinforce your statements with facts

The opinions and value judgments best left to themselves. Especially not complain or speak ill of colleagues or competitors.

"The design of our website - complete shit. I made a new version, and want to show it "- even if it's true, I'm sorry, but you can not take seriously. "Conversion of orders on our site - 1%. We figured out how to improve it, and the first A / B-tests of the new version showed a 5% ", - this is a conversation of a healthy person. If the facts do not, then you may soon go to the meeting.

6. If you feel that your offer may reject, allow greater choice

For example, do not just offer a new version of the site, and show the three options. And tell me what think is best and why. Select always easier than to agree on a single option.

7. Help you to accept the proposed solution

For example, describe the consequences of the introduction and the consequences of delay in implementation. A person should be easy and comfortable to say "yes" to help him with this.

Rule. With the high command of talking on such a scheme: the purpose of the meeting - the problem - the facts - solutions - why it works.

If this approach is applied not only in conversations with senior managers, and in general always possible at some point become a top manager himself.