How to Get Your Boss's Boss to Understand

Instead of asking, “Will I get in trouble if I skip this?” try asking, “Who might I be excluding if I don’t include this?” That shift in mindset is what separates a bare-minimum communicator from a truly effective one.

In the Communicating with FINESSE® framework, effective communication is for the receiver (the decision maker), not the message sender (you).

Start with your next slide deck. Spend extra time focusing on symbols and shapes instead of colors.

Certain patterns emerged that reflect the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram®: Frame, Illustrate, Noise Reduction, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics.

There’s usually less pressure than we imagine, but it also means the real work happens long before the meeting begins.

Dependability shows up in moments of pressure, when conditions change, and when others need reassurance that someone will step forward.

The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram is a powerful tool for addressing communication challenges in major decisions.

Canva makes these shortcomings worse by setting up the case of "flexibility that supports creativity" versus "structure that supports accessibility.”

These are five things I did to make it appear as much like a facilitated session as possible, and most importantly, achieve the desired collaboration.

Understanding what facilitation is and the elements of CATER provides the foundation for guiding participants to solutions that are created, understood, and accepted by all.

For my money, the top question is whether you trust executive leadership.

However, without clear and effective communication, even the most well-structured risk management plans fail in execution.

Effective business cases foster ongoing alignment rather than simply persuading stakeholders at a single moment in time,

Traditional communication approaches miss these three elements for high-stakes presentations. Most communication training focuses on...

By adopting checklists, seeking third-party reviews, and utilizing the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram, you can greatly improve your communication

It is particularly useful in strategic planning, systems thinking, and collaborative decision-making.

...attractiveness can play a significant role in routine or low-stakes decisions.

Tolerating failure only works when you confirm that the redundancy works.

Where most advisors lose the "trust" in "trusted advisor" is when they mix the roles of “advisor” with “decision maker.”

Improving our communication skills makes us better technical professionals and respected trusted advisors.