After publishing a course with a partner company at work, I was following up to see what other topics we might collaborate on. Our contact said he needed some time, but then, one day, the lady who ran our joined social media campaign informed me he had left the company. “For this year, publishing new courses is not a priority,” she added. I found this an interesting statement—and also promptly ignored it.
Janitors have a lot of wisdom to dispense. But when the guy cleaning the building tells you acquiring new TV shows is no longer relevant now that the head of streaming has left, that’s a bit strange, isn’t it? How could he possibly know? Until there’s a new person in charge, no one knows. Not even the CEO.
I don’t believe our marketing contact had bad intentions. Maybe she was simply trying to buy her team some time or instructed by someone higher up to try and get us off their back. But in life as in business, if something’s important to you, yet you keep being rejected, you simply go one level higher. In our case, the team lead may have been gone, but the CMO was still around. And my boss happened to know her. So next, we’ll follow up with her instead.
It’s a great flaw in how organization’s work: When most initiatives are dictated from the top, an offhand remark from a senior leader can cause a ton of commotion and, ultimately, wasted resources. But this gap can also work out in everyone’s favor. If a helpful partner manages to sneak in a useful project at the top of the queue, both parties win.
Every check-in one level higher is exactly that: a pulse check with the other side on whether the right person believes in the value you’re offering. It is also the same for you: another chance to reflect on what you’re hoping to accomplish. Is it still relevant? Will it bring both sides closer to their goals? If not, that’s okay, too. Welcome the chance to drop it, and move on.
Just don’t accept a “No” from someone who also lacks the authority to say “Yes.” Know who to listen to and who to ignore and, when in doubt, go one level higher.
