Project Management-Do you really know how to communicate with high-level?

Why do you need high-level support?

The success of a project depends largely on whether or not the project manager begins to communicate, and the experienced project manager starts with a considerable amount of effort to communicate with the top level to know what the project is thinking in the high-level and to help the project get more resources to support it.

The key feature that distinguishes the project manager from the general technical staff is the ability to understand and communicate, and for the project manager to raise the effective level of communication to top leaders.

Is it difficult to communicate with high-level?

In the enterprise in the supremacy of the driving business is the most direct, direct execution of leadership will be the fastest and most effective, but also the most destructive, this way once there is no room to maneuver the problem, but also let the middle of the space without imagination.

The high-level is more willing to focus on the strategic business level of work, through to the bottom of the process to drive business. It is not out of the normal process to support specific project objectives, so the high-level talk is blurred.

There are usually two types of business that require high-level promotion,

The first kind of very urgent and important business, according to the normal process has come not urgent things.

The second is a new issue that involves the interests of multiple departments, which needs to be finalized.

In the process of the project once these two problems can not complain, waiting, wait and see, the project manager must act immediately, so that the high-level understanding of the situation, comprehensive decision-making, give direct treatment of the views.

Why does the top not support me?

A lot of people come up with a plan, feeling the future of the enterprise is very valuable, but this program needs high-level support, it is eager to find high-level to talk, hope that the high-level support such ideas, report after not get the desired results, feel high-level incompetent. Own underappreciated.

Is that really the way it is?

In the high-level perspective, what is he worried about?

First, high-level most worried about decision-making errors, the biggest risk is the decision-making error, the ship's disaster, the larger the greater the risk of the enterprise, the leadership is unwilling to just listen to oral reports.

Second, the need to solve the problem, high-level station higher than you, see more problems, if not the company's core business problems may be put aside.

Third, the implementation of costs and benefits, the high-level will judge the cost of the problem-solving, as well as the income problem, if the implementation of high cost, the risk is very large, the problem will be put first.

Fourth. There is no consensus inside, the high-level generally will not only listen to your opinion, will listen to other relevant staff's opinion, because common sense tells us that the opinion is not unified things are difficult to carry on.

How do I get top-level support? First: Have a clear written report

, most leaders like to deal with formal documents, the general leadership is very busy, it is difficult to have enough time to listen to a person's report, or even some details of the work. The best way to communicate in advance to provide a text report, and then ask the leader to review.

• As for the written report, we often make mistakes.

1. The report is too long, and if you can't explain the problem in three or four pages, it's hard for the top to have time to read.
2. Only questions, no answers, what is the value of such a report in addition to causing annoyance to people?
3. The organization is not clear, the logical structure chaotic report also cannot obtain the high level approval.
4. Only from their own point of view, do not stand in the overall perspective of the problem, the end will be nothing.

• A good written report can follow the following structure
• Status description

Be sure to let the high-level know your efforts and achievements, the high-level is willing to see the enthusiasm of employees, special staff to work for a large amount of investment. When reporting, don't just say it's good, it's great, you have to learn to display the data. For example, if you complete the client's software installation, you can say that you have completed the installation of 120 client systems.

• There is a problem

Describe the existence of the problem to be objective, neutral, at least let others feel you are calm thinking, not with personal feelings, while the problem description to be simple, clear, do not underestimate the wisdom of the high. The key point is why you need the support of others, and your own existing ability is impossible to achieve.

• The need to solve the problem

Generally the following two situations are easier to persuade others to take action

First: The implementation cost is very small, even if the impact of failure is not big, single success of the harvest is very valuable.

Second: The issue is a core business issue of high-level concern.

• Countermeasures to solve the problem

Remember the work of the famous sayings, please take the answer to the door, you must design two or more answers, let the high-level to do the choice of questions or judgment.

• We're on the move.

Tell the high-level that you have acted and have done some basic-level preparation, which is also a reversal of the pressure on the top, suggesting that the plan is more feasible.

Second: Internal agreement

If the plan involves the interests of other departments, it is necessary to show the project manager network resources and communication skills, before submitting the report, to fully communicate,

Know who is behind you, what is against you, which is on both sides of the fence, what is the reason for opposing you, what kind of countermeasures and solutions can be resolved.

Third: Choose a good time

Find a time, leadership is not busy time to report, this time schedule will increase the support rate, and sometimes in some informal time, such as the time off from work, more relaxed environment, generally have a better effect.

Four: objective, rational reporting

Work reports do not have a strong subjective mood, or become a small report, high-level hope that subordinates can provide objective, comprehensive, rational analysis, rather than complaining, blaming and shirking responsibility.

Project Management-Do you really know how to communicate with high-level?