Giving upward feedback to a senior leader
You need to tell someone two levels up that something is not working.
Strategy
Ask permission, deliver one observation, tie it to their goal. Executives respond to impact on outcomes, not to feelings about style.
How this one opens
Can I give you a piece of feedback?
This is the first line of the full script for this exact situation.
What usually happens next
Most likely: a short, slightly clipped thank-you, and a question about who else feels this way.
One thing not to say
A lot of people are saying
You are seeing a piece of this script. 5 parts are written in full.
The rest of the opening, the full pushback path, everything to avoid, and the follow-up message — written for this situation.
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