Video conferencing is fast becoming the IT tool for a lot of teams. From content sharing features that allow for greater productivity among dispersed teams to HD clarity that makes it seem like you’re all in the same room, companies are starting to see the wonderful perks this technology brings to the table.
And just like them, you want to make sure that your team knows how to use this tool as well.
You know it works. You’re sure it’s going to do wonders for your team by improving your collaboration, increasing your productivity, and giving everyone a moral boost. But before you can implement that tool at work, you need your boss to sign off on it. Here are some tips on how you could get your boss to say “yes” and invest in tools that will make you and your team more efficient.
Develop a Plan
If your boss is perpetually busy, you need to have a strategy. Don’t just walk up to him and say you need this or that. That could backfire on you big-time. Make sure you prepare a proposal, one you could send over to him or leave at his desk so he could look it over when he has a spare moment or two. Never ambush your boss. That always tends to end up badly.
Time It Right
If there have been huge cost-cutting measures at the company, with a great number of people being laid off, that’s probably not a good time to talk about video communication tools to improve collaboration and cooperation among teams, says the U.S. News. Morale is down and you need to give the team as well as your boss some time to settle. Keep a lid on it until things are back to normal before you bring this up for discussion.
Wait It Out
If there’s been a massive retrenchment, that means emotions are running high. You wouldn’t want to incite bad feelings or ill will in any of your team members or leave them thinking that the company has the funds to invest in tools, but not in people.
If video calling and conferencing technology gets a bad reputation right before you even introduce its use to the team, that could make user adoption tricky and challenging. If your team ends up associating the technology with a negative event, they might end up thinking they hate it, and that’s going to cause undue conflict and tension. You’ll have to waste time trying to change their minds. Don’t rush it. Give it time.
Lay Down the Perks
We don’t mean just personal perks. Mention how your proposal is going to benefit the entire team or company at large. Want to use video calls to give you greater flexibility over your time and schedule? That’s good, but don’t just make it all about yourself.
Say that everyone on the team will benefit from the arrangement, since it provides all employees with more time for their personal lives. From parents trying to raise a family to employees who want more time to be fit and healthy, they’ll appreciate the kind of advantages that a BlueJeans video conferencing service can bring. With happy employees, the company can expect higher productivity, retention, and employee loyalty in return.
Lay Down the Cons
Your boss is busy, so spare him the time and trouble of thinking about the cons and holes in your proposal. If you only show him the perks, he’s going to need to think about the disadvantages as well. But if you show him both pros and cons of the arrangement, then you make it easy for him to make a decision.
Do a Test Run
One way to sway your boss over to your side is to provide him with positive results. You could do a little test run so you’d have the proof that you need to make him see how much easier and better a video communication system is over emails and chats.
Participate in a Study
Ctrip, a Chinese travel website, gave its employees permission to participate in a nine month work-from-home study, according to the Harvard Business Review. At the end of the study, they found out that at-home workers demonstrated higher levels of job satisfaction and happiness. They were also more productive and were less likely to turn in their resignation. Participating in a short-term study like this might just be want you need to get your boss to sign off on investing in a video communication solution.
Conclusion
Plan well ahead before you approach your boss. Get the timing right. Prepare your proposal. Be thorough. Put in both pros and cons, and then make your move. Given what’s at stake—better flexibility and productivity—you want to make sure you don’t make a mistake that could cost you your boss’s approval.
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