By Fernando Peralta, DM Fremont CA

A major challenge employees face when dealing with a Supervisor, Manager or an Executive is how to express an idea or how to respond to a series of practical questions. Today, we will look at how to improve your communication skills to obtain the best possible results for you, your boss, and for SSA.

“All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.“ -- Leonardo da Vinci, Italian artist, architect and mathematician Hear Me, For I Have an Idea!

IS IT UNDERSTANDING THE MOTIVES AND REASONS BEHIND ONE'S ACTIONS? IS IT A WAY OF REGARDING SITUATIONS, FACTS, ETC, AND JUDGING THEIR RELATIVE IMPORTANCE?

Key Elements in Conversational Skills* Create a positive perception. Understand different POVs. Use your insight skills to be better prepared on your responses. *Respect is earned by what you say.

Positive behaviors that promote “Managing UP” 1. Provide solutions, not problems. 2. Get Involved in you Own Team’s Difficulties. 3. Lead Initiatives - Collaborate with Peers. 4. Understand your boss’s agenda. 5. Be aware of your boss/peer’s hot buttons. 6. Stay Current and request feedback. 7. Drive your educational and personal development. 8. Be a leader in every position you have.

MU Credentials are Simple Math I + P + PB + T + E = C Insight + Perspective + Positive Behaviors + Trust + Expertise = Credibility

Now That You Have Credibility……Let’s talk about how to approach your great idea!

The Five Rules of Commitment

Rule 2. Identify Your Solution or Approach. Identify solutions and potential risks so that all possible outcomes are considered before drawing a conclusion. Key Advice : Your conversation with your immediate boss can be the key to engaging in a process that will benefit all of SSA. This approach will offset any signs of complaints or wild ideas.

Rule 3. Demonstrate your knowledge by researching your ideas. Collect pertinent data and information to support and contradict your idea citing experience and sources to prove validity. Along with your Boss, consider the impact this approach will have on the Agency as a whole.

Rule 4. Always keep your boss informed or updated on your project. Be a proactive problem solver and do not attempt to manipulate the results. Give concrete examples of the benefits your proposed solution could provide to the Agency by developing a final action plan. Accept responsibility for the outcome.

 1.Fail to follow through –Do what you promise, or, if you can’t, let your boss know as soon as possible so alternate plans can be made.  2.Go over the boss’s head – This move will almost guarantee that your time in this job will soon be coming to an end. With the exception of situations that are illegal, it is best to try to work things out with your boss before escalating the situation.  3.Be disrespectful to your boss –You don’t have to like your boss, but you certainly do have to treat him/her with some level of respect.  4.Lie to the boss – It’s all too easy to get caught in lies, particularly in this age of social networking. Be assured that someone, somewhere in your network, will read about this. Let’s hope that someone isn’t your boss.  5.Throw your boss over the cliff – Your job is to support your boss. It is not to let his superiors know how inept your boss is. If you’re asked about your boss’s performance, you certainly don’t need to lie.

1. Project a positive external image by creating high-impact messages. 2. Establish trust and credibility for stronger work relationships (a work in progress, right?). 3. Using rapport to shape effective messages and enhance your influence (a message to the right person). 4. Target Your Message (doesn’t mean one message works for all!). 5. Audience analysis: creating messages that address listeners’ needs, wants and priorities.

1. uthscsa.edu/gme/documents/TheArtofManagingUp.pdf1. uthscsa.edu/gme/documents/TheArtofManagingUp.pdf 2. online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB on-managing-up-dont/ 4. content/uploads/sites/6/2013/06/MANAGING-UP.pdf 5. From Suddenly in Charge – Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around By Roberta Chinsky Matuson