C-Suite Conversations

  Communications Management   ProjectsAtWork  

Talking to senior management can be stressful, but it can make a big impact — on your project and even your career. When face time is limited, how do you make the most of these conversations? Here are five guidelines to “communicating up” so that executives listen.

When was the last time you headed down the hall or up the elevator with a senior executive or manager to present a new opportunity, raise an issue or just plain get some questions answered? Talking to members of the C-suite and senior management can be stressful, but it can be the difference between a successful career and a go-nowhere job.

When face time is often limited, how do you make the most of these conversations? It takes preparation and specialized knowledge to communicate clearly, concisely, directly and, most importantly, persuasively with the decision makers who can green light your ideas.

The following strategies will help ensure that each conversation is professional and effective.

1. Know your audience and tailor your message.

Everyone has a preferred style of communication: Some people are direct while others are emotional; some are casual while others are formal; some prefer a lot of detail while others prefer a high-level overview. Any and all of these styles might be found in the executive suite. To complicate matters further, the style will likely change depending on the …

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