How to Get Your Boss's Boss to Understand

Your story begins with how you interpret the data through your training and experience. It includes clarifying what you mean by key terms such as reliability, risk, and resiliency. It continues with what the data shows when you graph it and what it does not show. It ends with what you conclude based on your understanding of the patterns, gaps, and limitations.

You become more valuable when you understand your role. You are not the decision maker if you are giving the PowerPoint presentation. If you are the one giving the PowerPoint presentation, you are not the one making the decision. That is not criticism or demeaning to you. It is reality. Commissioners, elected officials, and board members do not use PowerPoints when they deliberate. They rely on discussion, experience, and judgment. The person at the front of the room is there

High‑risk choices involve emotion, uncertainty, and personal judgment. A slide deck cannot carry that weight.   Technical professionals and business leaders often forget this and default to presentations because they feel safe. But safety is not the same as effectiveness.