How do you make a sugesstion at work as to better practises without looking as though you are trying to usurp?

Question

your boss?

Answer 1

If your main priority is to get better practices into place, you could try introducing the idea to your colleagues/superiors in such a way that they are able to contribute to the process and take up a stake in it. For instance, you could start by asking for feedback and may be begin with somebody you feel least uncomfortable with. If you can find one person to support your idea, they could back you up when you approach the rest of the team. In this way it opens up the possibility that the team you’re working with has more of a chance to ‘own’ the change you are trying to introduce. If you’re lucky it might even contribute in some way to an improved sense of team-working and refocus their attention back onto their (original) objectives.

(Failing that - you may even like to go as far as to ‘allow’ your colleagues to think it was their idea! ;) )

Answer 2

If you are from the that same department, do it carefully.... with a smile.
If you're trying to give advice to employees in ANOTHER department, then try not to give a damn. No one will listen to you and they will ever thank you even if they did listen to you LOL. !!