[SBE] Can Your Manager Tell Ysbeou What You Do For A living?

[k7cr]

Bill in Albuquerque wrote - 


>The challenge is to communicate with your 

> boss before their eyes glaze over!



I suspect that everyone has an - eye glaze
threshold - that causes us to tune-out when 
we have either heard all we wanted to know
about a subject or the matter became to
complicated or detailed etc. This is a matter
 where often the fault runs both ways.   

One of the reasons I suspect that GM's and
other technophobes are reluctant to go to 
a technical facility has a good deal to do with 
their fear of feeling out of place and short on 
knowledge.  Think of this as your wife asking
you to go dress shopping or perhaps spend 
and hour or two in a fabric store!   No one
wants to be placed in a position like this.

The real challenge is to make this trip 
productive for the GM and perhaps the best 
way to do is this is to make it relational.  Nothing
is likely to help more than to have something in 
common.   For example - You want to spend 
$2000 on an electric toilet (been there)..how
better to explain a need for an expenditure than
to have the person whose signature you need, 
come see for them selves.   Inviting the GM to 
help with the solution is a lot easier when 
they can fully understand the nature of the 
problem.  Don't forget your documentation 
to support the need for that new gizmo..and 
be prepared to explain the relative costs, in terms
that the GM will understand.

Ever notice how, in Radio, the GM will be 
quick to sign that PO for the latest Audio 
Processor but be reluctant to sign off on one 
for something else at the transmitter site?  It 
has a lot to do with the fact that for some things
he - understands- the value.   It's our job to 
not just get the GM to approve an expense, but
to - inform him - of the value.   Remember he 
needs to understand the need and after that 
how the expense will answer that need and, 
most importantly, understand the value of 
that purchase in terms of how it benefits 
the operation. 

You may well find that the head of your
accounting department can be of great assistance
in dealing with the GM when it comes to money.
Consider taking this person to lunch for a quick
lesson.

Bottom Line (s)


> Do your research.

> Have your alternatives ready.

> Present your case in economic terms that the 

GM can relate to...

> Always talk with the GM using terms that 

he can relate to .

And MOST important - 

Remember that he too likely reports to someone 
and he too will often have to respond to them as 
to why an expense was made...he will need plenty 
of justification and backup...Make that chore 
easy on him and he will be more receptive to you.

Clay Freinwald
Entercom-Seattle