The Power of Advocacy: How to Gain Support from Senior Leaders

When multiple voices champion your proposals, it not only amplifies your message but also lends greater credibility to your initiatives. In this article, we explore strategies to build a strong team of advocates

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Harvard Business Review

While school business leaders play a vital role in implementing change within their institutions, there are times when obtaining support from senior leaders, such as Chief Operating Officers (COOs) and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), is crucial. These leaders can advocate for your ideas to a broader audience, enhancing your influence.

Here’s how to assist them in effectively showcasing your proposals for maximum impact:

Come Prepared

To secure their support, it’s essential to communicate in a way that resonates with them. This means linking your request not only to your own needs but also to their priorities. This approach not only helps you present your ideas effectively but also smooths over any differences in priorities that may exist from an operational or financial perspective.

Senior leaders often focus on efficiency and workload management, so it’s crucial to come prepared with tangible suggestions that address these concerns. By identifying specific stakeholders, meetings, presentations, or communications where they can advocate for your idea, you create a clear path for them to support you.

Provide Information

Provide ready-made language for senior leaders to use, eliminating barriers to action and allowing you to control the narrative. This ensures that your initiatives are presented in the manner you desire. You can offer concise talking points about your project that they can integrate into conversations or presentations. Additionally, you should provide a set of frequently asked questions with clear and concise answers to help them address objections or defend your ideas when discussing them with potential stakeholders.

Report Your Success

Regularly send a concise, bulleted email summarising your project’s accomplishments, challenges you’ve overcome and upcoming milestones. This creates a neatly packaged “cheat sheet” of information that they can easily use to update governance teams and stakeholders.

Establishing this routine not only keeps everyone informed but also helps you develop the habit of articulating and documenting your achievements, which can significantly boost your confidence.

Encouraging other members of the leadership team to advocate for you not only amplifies your voice but also fosters a collaborative environment within the institution. When multiple leaders support your initiatives, it sends a strong signal of unity and shared vision, making it more likely that your proposals will gain traction.