One of the biggest complaints of Gen-Yers is that no one is listening to their ideas. To a significant degree this is not because their ideas are bad, but because most employees don't sell up the right way. One way to "sell up" is by means of a print memo in support of a conversation between you and your boss.
Quite a few years ago one of my clients gave me a suggested memo format for "managing up." It was from either Northwestern or Harvard Business School. Anyway, it's gotten a lot of use and found to be very successful. Part of the reason it's successful is because it forces you to give some serious thought to your ideas, rather than walking into your boss's cubicle half-cocked.
Although you may send it email, this is a case where paper often works better than email. At senior levels nearly always go with paper, not email. It's more persuasively formal. Here's the memo format:
1. Make a concise statement of the change you think is needed, necessary or appropriate. What's the current situation that could be improved upon? Summarize the change in three or four sentences--that forces you to be clear and concrete.
Detail what's wrong (in three or four more sentences) with the current situation. Remember to define what's ineffective from your boss's point of view, from her/his value system or perspective.
2. Identify at least three alternative methods for resolving the problem situation one of which is "do nothing."
For each alternative (A, B, C) make two short columns of pros and cons. List costs, payoff, disadvantages, advantages or whatever, in phrases.
3. This is optional, but you may identify the alternative you prefer and highlight your reasons. It's optional, because you may want to wait to explain your preference in person rather than write it out to let your manager know where you stand immediately.
4. Ask for your manager's additions, comments, reaction.
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Schedule a meeting to present the memo in person, or else to discuss the memo if you've already sent it. Probably half of the managers in the workforce are print-oriented and want to see your recommendation on paper before you get to your meeting. The other half don't care. You should know which your boss prefers and you will want to follow his preference.
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5. This also is optional. Include a statement to the effect that if your manager has no additional questions or comments, and you have heard nothing back by _____date____, you will proceed with alternative A, B, or C. If your boss is disinterested, he/she may not care what you do. If your boss is one of those who just lets ideas "die," this puts a feedback mechanism in place. You'll have to be the judge of how your boss will react to this approach.
You should be able to do all of this in less than a single page. If it takes more than a page, put some of the material into an appendix, but keep the 5 steps to less than a page. Managers, even if they're print-oriented want simplicity and brevity. Short and sweet.
Last month my protege wanted to make several recommended changes to a required training program. The vendor's training material contained process errors, and though the material had been used for several years, no one had caught them. He handed his managing up memo to his boss and talked to her about the training problem. She set up a meeting with two or her relevant peers, invited him back (with his memo) and he made his recommendations. The training program was cancelled and the material sent back to the vendor for revision. His recommendation, of course, went into his file with the appropriate recognition.