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Senior level support of an initiative is always a key goal of any group manager or project director, in order to ensure success of a project. Therefore, I am not surprised that in my work over the past decade with change managers, gaining executive support continues to stay at the top of the list of concerns these managers have with their work.
In a desire to help my clients, I talked with executive managers of a number of organizations, both in the public and private sectors to find out what they suggest. I discovered two areas that a team leader can focus on that are often neglected. Using these techniques, the chances of gaining the support of senior management will increase substantially.
Looking For Instant Support
A number of the senior managers I talked to indicated that project directors often believe that if their initial proposal is good enough the executive team will immediately agree and support it. Unfortunately it is more often the case that executive support is created gradually over time.
It can take 3 or 4 years to gain enough executive support to increase congressional funding according to one government agency executive I spoke with. While most corporate initiatives would never take so long, he used the example to emphasize that managers and team leaders must understand the strategic and long-term perspective senior management has on the organization. His suggestions for those seeking executive support are to:
1. give clear and understandable examples of how your project or proposal will become an asset for the entire organization.
2. Work with co-workers in other departments and groups. Try to find ways to incorporate your goals with the goals of other teams in order to make the best use of company resources.
3. Invite senior management to preview your ideas. Ask for their advice as to how you can best fit your ideas into the overall goals of the company. Be flexible and willing to make changes based on their feedback.
4. Wait to present your proposal until after you have built a strong case and obtained initial support for your ideas.
Failing to Show How the Initiative Fits Into the Big Picture
This is a crucial point when it comes to gaining support. Most executive teams have a vision for the future and a number of strategic goals in place to help the organization realize the vision. You are much more likely to gain support when you show how your team's plan will help to further the strategic goals. Doing this successfully means being able to read between the lines and understand what is important without waiting to be told what to do.
What does it mean to be strategic? In my experience, executives want their directors to:
1. Understand the organization's overall priorities.
2. Give constructive suggestions how their group can help the company meet those objectives.
Time spent up front with senior executives is critical to understanding what success means to them, according to Scott Eblin in "The Next Level". However, at this point it is unlikely that they will provide you with specific goals and constraints that you can input into your project. The goal will be to listen for key objectives, as well as company wide restraints, barriers and obstacles. Soak in what the executive tells you. Take the information to your managers to talk over some more. After you have a clear understanding of the organization's position, return to senior management with your specific plans for your group's initiative, as well as goals to achieve them. Always be flexible and willing to make adjustments based on feedback you hear from the executive team.
Executive support for a project you feel strongly about may seem as though it is out of your reach, but if you are patient you will be able to build a case that senior management will understand. The key is to always stay focused on the overall strategic plans of the organization and to let senior management know how your project will help achieve those goals. Before you know it, your project could become a key factor in the success of the entire company!
In a desire to help my clients, I talked with executive managers of a number of organizations, both in the public and private sectors to find out what they suggest. I discovered two areas that a team leader can focus on that are often neglected. Using these techniques, the chances of gaining the support of senior management will increase substantially.
Looking For Instant Support
A number of the senior managers I talked to indicated that project directors often believe that if their initial proposal is good enough the executive team will immediately agree and support it. Unfortunately it is more often the case that executive support is created gradually over time.
It can take 3 or 4 years to gain enough executive support to increase congressional funding according to one government agency executive I spoke with. While most corporate initiatives would never take so long, he used the example to emphasize that managers and team leaders must understand the strategic and long-term perspective senior management has on the organization. His suggestions for those seeking executive support are to:
1. give clear and understandable examples of how your project or proposal will become an asset for the entire organization.
2. Work with co-workers in other departments and groups. Try to find ways to incorporate your goals with the goals of other teams in order to make the best use of company resources.
3. Invite senior management to preview your ideas. Ask for their advice as to how you can best fit your ideas into the overall goals of the company. Be flexible and willing to make changes based on their feedback.
4. Wait to present your proposal until after you have built a strong case and obtained initial support for your ideas.
Failing to Show How the Initiative Fits Into the Big Picture
This is a crucial point when it comes to gaining support. Most executive teams have a vision for the future and a number of strategic goals in place to help the organization realize the vision. You are much more likely to gain support when you show how your team's plan will help to further the strategic goals. Doing this successfully means being able to read between the lines and understand what is important without waiting to be told what to do.
What does it mean to be strategic? In my experience, executives want their directors to:
1. Understand the organization's overall priorities.
2. Give constructive suggestions how their group can help the company meet those objectives.
Time spent up front with senior executives is critical to understanding what success means to them, according to Scott Eblin in "The Next Level". However, at this point it is unlikely that they will provide you with specific goals and constraints that you can input into your project. The goal will be to listen for key objectives, as well as company wide restraints, barriers and obstacles. Soak in what the executive tells you. Take the information to your managers to talk over some more. After you have a clear understanding of the organization's position, return to senior management with your specific plans for your group's initiative, as well as goals to achieve them. Always be flexible and willing to make adjustments based on feedback you hear from the executive team.
Executive support for a project you feel strongly about may seem as though it is out of your reach, but if you are patient you will be able to build a case that senior management will understand. The key is to always stay focused on the overall strategic plans of the organization and to let senior management know how your project will help achieve those goals. Before you know it, your project could become a key factor in the success of the entire company!
About the Author:
Wendy Mack is a experienced mentor, trainer, and author with a focus in leading and communicating change. Contact Wendy at, or Download her free e-book, Transforming Anxiety into Energy at www.WendyMack.com.
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