Getting People Onside
Organisational hierarchy
Note: The following notes were written by a dozen people in four brainstorming sessions at the "Getting People Onside" workshop at LIANZA09 - I'm merely the scribe.
- Building relationships
- Identify opportunities
- Power pulses
- Self-leadership -> to educate, explain to those in the levels above - overcoming hierarchical miscommunication, filling knowledge gaps - bosses may not know day-to-day operational issues
- Bypass
- EAs
- Powerful allies
- don't waste time of director
- Give councillor some ownership
- Identify who really has the power (sometimes trial and error) and work through them.
- Reporting and proposals done thoroughly and in writing
- Do your homework and think through their objections first. Succinct well-presented info.
- Involve the manager early in your idea - not later.
solution
- find a chambion
- get outsiders coming in to brainstorm ideas
- innovation zone
- Go straight to the top
- Seek powerbrokers
- find allies
- don't waste director's time - be direct
- find an elected member
- communication plan
- find a common purpose with manager
- make them look good
- go around it and find kindred spirits
- lobby your manager
- make it safe to "rock the boat"
- bypass
- make friends with the PA
- powerful allies are helpful
- take your points to the top (use time wisely) - make your case strongly
- meet overall strategic direction
- find allies, seek power brokers
- personal
- make relationships with stakeholders
- sow seeds at the top
- bypass the formal hierarchy
- beware of 'gatekeepers'
- corridor meetings
- connect CEOs with your grassroots work -> champions!
- align your goals with your big bosses' goals
- make your top stakeholders look good
- monthly reporting - regular/good
proposals
- sound research
- think/anticipate questions first
- well-presented - short
- short summary / + background report
- what want
- what cost
- what benefits are
- if positive/negative support - run past negative first - get 'test' questions
- bypass the hierarchy - go straight to the top
- go for the personal assistant
- find allies from other areas to support your cause
- don't ever waste the ear of your director
- ask for money
- make your case strongly
- meet their strategic directions
- get access to the top
- give them ownership of the library
- flattery
- touchy-feely, get the sentimental stuff published
- self-leadership, strategic planning and prioritising
- The people with the power aren't always the people that you think have the power.
- Don't get the next layers up off-side
- Make a communication plan
- Keep the hierarchy CCd, do things 'on behalf of' to give the kudos to the right tier.
- credibility
- hierarchies need to be applied fairly
- This applied for all staff, even those who have been embedded in the institution forever!
- Or - learn to bypass the hierarchy!
- Personal assistant
- academic allays power - other areas
- don't waste time - 5 minutes
- go around top
- meet needs of organisational directions
- get access to powerbrokers - get ownership
- be empowered yourself
- Keep open lines of communication to the decision makers on policy
- Be familiar with the reasons behind the policies including any applicable legislation
- Back up reasons for any changes
- Staff with front desk responsibilities should also be allowed to use discretion
- be aware of the correct line
- can hinder rather than help
- applied fairly
- working within the bureaucracy
- knowing what lines to take
except where noted
except where noted