The Power of Meaningful Conversations with Senior Leaders

Having meaningful conversations with senior leaders can be a valuable opportunity to learn, build relationships, and advance your career. They will get to know you and the value that you bring. You can leverage the opportunity to learn more about them and perhaps how you can help them too! So how can you do that?

Start by looking at your senior leaders as fellow human beings.

I met with a client the other day who wanted to meet with a VP in her organization. However, in the next breath, she said, “but I can’t meet with him and have a conversation, I wouldn’t know what to say.”

This is a common response from clients who are meeting with someone at a higher level than they are or it is the first time that they are having a conversation together. It is understandable to feel that way because people at lower levels have a tendency to put the people above them on a pedestal. What if you just look at them as human beings instead?

They do have a higher level title and know different things than you do, but that doesn’t take away from what you know and the information that you need to share with them! Remember, they don’t have enough detail to make decisions without the information and insight that you have. Prepare for the conversation, but don’t put pressure on yourself to be perfect.

Ask yourself the following questions to prepare for the discussion:

• What do you want the person to know about the situation?
• How can you share the information in a way that they can hear it and understand its importance?
• What details do you need to share that are important and impactful to the discussion?
• What do you want them to do (make a decision, help you move the situation forward, connect with someone else or another option)?
• What do the next steps look like coming out of the meeting?

Be yourself when you have meaningful conversations with senior leaders.

If you haven’t met them before, take a few minutes to introduce yourself, share what you do, and a bit about your experience. Then share what you want to accomplish in the conversation so they understand what they need to do and are prepared to give you what you need.

There are two things that are important to do in these types of conversations: listen and ask questions. Listen to what the other person is saying for any insights that you can gather and use to help you move things forward. Ask any additional questions that you need clarification on to take action and to show that you heard them.

My client followed these steps and couldn’t believe how well the conversation went. Now that she has seen what is possible, she is ready to plan her next one with a different person now!

Now that we are clear on the how, let’s talk about the benefits of having meaningful conversations with senior leaders.

Gain insights: Senior leaders have extensive experience and knowledge in their industry and organization, so talking to them can give you valuable insights about the industry, the company, and the leadership style that they use. They can help you see the vision of where the company is going and how your role can play a part in the success of the goals of the company.

Networking: Having a conversation with a senior leader can help you to build a network of contacts within the organization. This can be helpful in the future when you are looking for career opportunities, seeking advice or mentorship, or seeking referrals. Remember to ask them who else they think you should be meeting within the company or externally to continue to gain a new perspective and connections.

Career Development: Talking to a senior leader can help you to gain a better understanding of the skills and knowledge you need to develop to advance your career within the organization. You can also ask for feedback on your performance and ways to improve. Be intentional in this conversation and let them know what you have an interest in doing next or in a few years. This is a way to put your interests on their radar so that they will think of you if they hear of an opportunity that aligns with your career plan.

Visibility: By having a conversation with a senior leader, you may be able to raise your visibility within the organization. This can help to build your reputation and increase your chances of being considered for future career opportunities. If you feel like this could be a long relationship with them, you may consider asking them if they would be your mentor or sponsor.

Inspiration: A conversation with a senior leader can be inspiring and motivating. You may gain new perspectives and ideas that can help you to approach your work in a more effective and innovative way. They have been where you are and understand some of the challenges that you face. Leaders who can inspire you to see those challenges as opportunities that you can grow from will motivate you when you have a tough day.

There is a quote by Andrew Murphy that says, “You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.” If you are putting a wall between you and your opportunities, it is time to explore what that wall is doing for you. It may keep you safe, but it also holds you back from new possibilities! What if you took the wall down and tried things that are out of your comfort zone, but you grew and developed in a much bigger way? Would it be worth it?

Planning to have these kinds of conversations is a great way to leverage my new program called The 90 Day Visibility Breakthrough Accelerator! I have helped people identify the story that they want to tell, and what they want the leader to do as well as do some practice conversations with me!

It is one of my favorite ways to help leaders have these meaningful conversations in the best way. It creates a relaxed, safe space to ensure they are successful when they are in front of the leaders! Email me if you have more questions or sign up for your accelerator at the link above!

Susan M Barber, Author, Podcast Host, Former Fortune 500 IT Director, turned Certified Executive Coach helps business leaders to play bigger, increase their visibility and finally, shine a light on their leadership strengths so they can elevate their position in the workplace. She brings a depth of business knowledge to her coaching from her 25+ years of leadership experience at Kraft Heinz. As the author and podcast host of The Visibility Factor, she is creating a visibility movement for leaders to show their value and be seen for their true talent. Susan is married with three children and lives in the Chicago area.