How to communicate with superiors about their goals before starting work?

Prior communication is an important way to obtain the boss’s off-site information and thinking frame.

Efficient upward alignment three-step method

Step 1: Make a work plan

The content includes

  • background
  • Analysis of the situation
  • solution
  • Measure of the
  • Time to plan
  • The resources needed

Present form

  • Mind maps
  • PPT logic Framework

Provide multiple programs: explain the advantages and risks of each program, let leaders do multiple choice questions, not answer questions

Step 2: Align key data

Work objectives should be set in accordance with Smart principles, with special attention to timeliness, clarity and measurability.

Step 3: Be challenged and questioned

  • Think ahead about disagreements/challenges
  • Preview and practice in advance
  • When communicating, discuss and communicate fully

Two tips:

  1. Post response: for all boss’s challenges and questions, if there is no immediate response, take the initiative to feedback the relevant results.

  2. Do a good job of information synchronization of relevant personnel

Should I take the initiative to communicate the unsatisfactory progress to my superiors?

1. Communication attitude

  • Don’t be bold in your communication

    Managers tend to prefer surprise to schedule because the essence of management is to get things done on schedule. Surprise is great, but it often means risk and uncontrollable. So upward communication can only make managers feel more comfortable.

Second, communication opportunity

  • Find problems to communicate this morning

    In most cases, poor progress means not meeting your goals and objectives on time, and the earlier you communicate upward, the more time you have to solve the problem and the better your chances of success.

Third, communication ideas

  • Prepare plan in advance – WWH publicity

    WHAT: WHAT’s the problem?

    WHY does this happen?

    HOW: HOW do you solve this problem?

  • Common solutions: increase resources, reduce difficulty, and delay delivery

Postmortem – What should I report to my superiors when the project is completed?

Two important implications

  1. Anchoring growth: Projects can end, and employees can’t stop thinking about how to optimize and improve.

  2. Reusing experience: Asking “Why” afterwards

    Personal experience translates into organizational experience to help the team avoid pitfalls.

Three powerpoint slides to report back

I. Objective review and evaluation results

  • Review the initial project goals
  • Compare the status and results with the original goal
  • Develop a consensus on project results

Second, cause analysis

  • Think about why you succeed? Summary of replicable methods
  • Think about why you failed? — Look for lessons you can avoid in the future
  • Both the experience and the lesson come down to a constructive suggestion about what we should do next time to be just as successful/what we should not do next time to avoid risk. Don’t put too much emphasis on causes beyond your control.

Iii. Future prospects

  • Develop a specific resolution/action plan for the problems identified in the project.

Tips:

  1. Start asking questions: Focus on the key points of the presentation

    I would like to focus on the part that you are not involved in. Do you think this arrangement is reasonable? Is there anything in particular you’d like to know about?

  2. End interactive: Get targeted feedback

    The above is my thinking about the whole project. Could you please give me specific expectations?