3 DAYS AGO • 2 MIN READ

Yes, You Can Convince Your Boss

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Second Wave Dive

Read in 5 minutes or less, weekly. Absolutely free.

Hi there,

For years, I wore the “I’m not going play politics, I’ll just prove it with my performance” badge.

I viewed politics as sucking up. I believed in the myth that I had to choose between being a good person or being political. I believed that I could make things happen while sitting out the relationship stuff. I believed some magical company existed where there were no office politics, and I was determined to find it.

It did not work. No company like that exists.

I spent years resisting the relationship stuff. Learning about my peers, validating their perspective, and trying new ways to communicate my ideas. I didn’t grow my influence. I didn’t make things happen. Instead, I grew more anger, anxiety, and isolation from my peers and family.

That sucked. I don't want that for you. There's a better way.

It's time to shift tactics

For the past two months, I've been collaborating with my friend Tim Yeo (author of The Quiet Achiever) on a new kind of training. We wondered what would happen if we combined our experience, perspectives, lessons, and techniques to create something entirely new.

We conducted ~50 interviews with your peers, and found clear patterns of what you do and don't need more of.

❌ What You Don’t Need More Of:

  • ​Vague advice to "speak up more" or "be assertive"
  • ​Personality-dependent strategies that drain introverts
  • ​Theory without practical application
  • ​Generic approaches that ignore your unique situation

​But what's so often missing in training or advice is what y'all really want. Better ways to understand power dynamics at your work, effective ways to frame your ideas as the best ones, and written/verbal communication skills that no one teaches you.

Below I'm sharing everything you need to know about our two-day workshop called, "Yes, You Can Convince Your Boss."

Cheers,
Ryan

P.S. This is the only time we'll be running this as a live, 2-day workshop. Registration closes on Thursday, March 20 at 5p ET.



​✅ What will I actually DO (not just learn)?

​This is a hands-on workshop, based on a real situation you're facing (or faced).

During the session you will:

  1. Decide on which idea you want to get buy-in for
  2. Diagnose the source of tension between you and your boss
  3. Identify your boss's "love language" so you can match their leadership style
  4. Shape your argument in 4 different formats: email, presentation deck, verbal, and coaching
  5. Make a plan to sell your ideas

You'll walk away with:

  1. Ready-to-use email templates for presenting your ideas to resistant stakeholders
  2. Storytelling frameworks that connect your idea to outcomes executives care about
  3. Reusable Figma boards to practice and prepare your arguments
  4. Insights and guidance from a close cohort of peers

​✅ Is this workshop for me?

It's pretty simple. This workshop is for:

  • ​Anyone with a boss
  • ​Senior ICs whose ideas get overlooked despite their technical merit or domain expertise
  • ​Managers who need stakeholder buy-in to move projects forward
  • ​Anyone tired of seeing less qualified ideas win simply because they were presented "better"

​✅ When and how can I attend?

💡 This is a two-day workshop! Purchasing a ticket gets you access to the Friday and Saturday sessions.

DATES:
Friday, March 21 & Saturday, March 22; 4-7pm ET each day
(Saturday, March 22 & Sunday, March 23 at 7-10am AET)

FORMAT:
This intimate, live Zoom session will not be recorded, so we can provide you a safe space to discuss real workplace challenges. Attendance is required.

SIZE:
This workshop is capped at 15 participants to ensure personalized attention and maximum value.



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Second Wave Dive

Read in 5 minutes or less, weekly. Absolutely free.