I want to change my role at work. There are a number of people who own the business and work there. I am not an owner, but still reasonably senior and I have worked there for many years. The main boss is in favour of this change. Essentially in part it creates a role that didn't exist before although I will still do some elements of the role I do now but also drop some of it.
The main boss has discussed this with a few of the most senior owners. One has objected. The main boss has explained why and suggested I speak to her about it. He thinks that if I can explain it she may embrace the idea. I will only be able to change role if a majority of the owners agree and in practice I will only be able to do it effectively if at least nearly all of them are on board.
Although I have been told why she objects it may well be for more reasons than those I have been told about, including some that may be hard to articulate, so I need to be sure she listens openly to the positives. I have thought through all the reasons why she might think it isn't a good idea and I think I can explain the positives and how I can overcome the negatives.
My issue is how I open the conversation with her. If I start by saying I understand she has some concerns, I think she will explain those and I would then explain how I can overcome those rather than getting her to be focus on why it would be good. I think I risk her focussing only on the negatives.
I would quite like to open in a way that means I can explain my proposal first, before she talks about her concerns, which I think I can address. However, I can't think of how to get in first. She is very likeable but quite a forceful character so she is likely to want to put her view across first.
I report direct to my main boss so it was easier to raise it as part of a career discussion. Initially I had asked to take over the role of someone who was retiring.
He looked into it and then said no to that, but then I explained what it was I wanted to achieve by taking on that role. He still gave that job to someone else but was firmly behind the idea of my changing roles to do what I wanted to use that role to achieve. It directly helps him and is in line with what he is trying to achieve and he is very open to new ideas, so it was much easier.
I don't think I fully understand what this other owner really thinks about how the business should develop so I also need to figure out what would chime well with her.
Any advice is welcome.