The Management Tip of the Day

Read online

December 26, 2018 How to Manage a Boss with a Zillion Ideas Visionary bosses can be fun to work for. But they can also be overwhelming if they seem to have an endless supply of ideas. How can you possibly implement everything they come up with? First of all, don't assume your boss expects you to do something every time they have a brilliant thought. It's OK to just listen and respond with a simple, "That's a great idea" or "I'll take a look," and then wait to see if it comes up again. That way you'll be able to tell whether the idea is actually important to your boss. If your manager does expect you to take action, shape and contain the idea by asking where it fits into the team's goals and how your boss wants you to prioritize it. By connecting the idea to other, ongoing projects, you can help your boss assess it from a strategic perspective. Adapted from "How to Work for a Boss Who Has a New Idea Every 5 Minutes," by Elizabeth Grace Saunders

ADVERTISEMENT

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT HBR's 10 Must Reads on Women and Leadership Harvard Business Review, Herminia Ibarra, Deborah Tannen, Joan C. Williams Learn the root causes of the barriers that exist for women in the workplace; check your own gender biases and distinguish between confidence and competence in your colleagues; and recognize the issues women face when speaking up about bias or harassment. $34.95 Buy Now

FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide for Women at Work Harvard Business Review Women regularly face unfair challenges in the workplace—from being passed over for promotion to being ignored in conversation. This guide provides practical tips and advice so you can face gender stereotypes head-on, make yourself visible when opportunities arise, and demonstrate your leadership skills. $19.95 Buy Now

HBR.ORG | TOPICS | THE MAGAZINE | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | MANAGE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2018 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-988-0886 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7500 (outside the U.S. and Canada)