How can I help make a change in how my department is run?

Question

In working where I have been for the past while, I have come to know the company very well and now I want to help make a change in how my department is run. Can anyone tell me how to instigate change here without stepping on my bosses’ toes (considering my boss doesn’t want change, but I know it’s best for the company)?

Answer 1

That's a tough one. Of course it depends on lots of factors, like:

1. what's your personality -- are you outspoken, shy etc?

2. How do people around you perceive you -- are you thought of as rash or thoughtful and considered in your actions and statements.

3. What kind of change are you envisioning? Is it something that will threaten your bosses position? Is it something that will actually help him succeed, but he doesn't know it or is comfortable with the current way of doing things?

4. Is the benefit of the change predictable and measurable, or is it fuzzier - like something that you are convinced of, but is ultimately intuitive.

You are most likely to be able to inspire the change if you can achieve the following things:

1. Successfully evangelize the change. If you can be excited and enthusiastic about the change and let that excitement spread it will pave the way for the change.

2. If you are perceived as a positive and considerate person, people will be less likely to suspect your motivations for proposing the change.

3. If the change is something that will help your boss be more successful, that goes a long way towards selling it. Ultimately, if the change comes out of his or her department - fair or not - he or she will get some credit for it. And, of course, if they reject the change and that hurts the company, it would make them look bad when the truth comes out. But be careful not to be confrontational about it. Best just be excited about the possibilities.

4. To whatever degree possible, collect information that demonstrates how the change will benefit the company's bottom line. Sometimes this is easy, like when it's a matter of numbers. Other times, the benefits are indirect, like keeping productive employees from quiting. In these cases, it's more difficult to quantify, but do your best to gather information that supports the idea of your change.

5. When proposing the change, be sure to (whether you think it true or not) acknowledge that you may not have all the perspective that your boss has. The best bosses I've ever had listened to my ideas and made sure I knew they understood them. But ultimately, they may or may not have gone along with my conclusions. I was confident that they considered the arguments and yet, also knew that they were often dealing with a larger picture. When a boss feels like they are not in a confrontation, but rather a communication, they tend to be far more likely to listen.

Good luck. It's people like you who make things better out there.

Answer 2

That's a difficult question to answer as you wrote it. Is the boss the owner? Is the owner local or out of state? Do you work for a big company or little company? Is your boss an upper manager or middle manager? Do you have a company suggestion box? Would an anonymous letter work? Would a written proposal work? It's hard to answer your question the way it's written because there are many variables. You have every right in the world to offer your suggestions to receptive ears because positive changes in your department and your company will end up benefitting you personally and professionally. The key is suggestions to receptive ears.

Answer 3

If you really want to convince your manager a change is necessary, relate the change back to money saved or additional revenue generated.

Most managers don't want to hear about an idea to change things without concrete proof of the benefits vs the cost/time of the change that is taking place. Change for change's sake is never welcome.

Oh, additionally, don't forget that your manager is responsible for your reviews and salary increases so stepping on toes or looking to make a change when your manager is clearly against it may be a very bad career move.

Answer 4

Hi,

In any work set up, it is often experienced, that there will always be a ' Resentment to change, but not RESISTANT '. Given the situation of your Department, if you wish to bring in a Change, which your Boss is apparently Resenting.. then the best way to go about is to bring in a reinforcement of your Boss views on the matters concerning the Department's functioning, but at the same time.. slowly bring in , Suggestions to improve upon the existing functional aspects.
When you reinforce the views of the boss, you are not going to antoganise him.. and at the same time when you bring in suggestions to improve upon.. they will be received with a welcome gesture.

Remember, human psyche is inevitably a ' self-centered' one.. and no one wants to let himself down, specially by his / her own subordinates.