297 How to Influence Your Boss-Leadership and Communication Skills to Avoid Overwhelm Burnout and Share Critical Feedback

How do you give critical feedback to your boss without risking the relationship, overstepping, stressing out, or burning bridges?

You’re juggling priorities, managing a team, and trying to meet expectations from above. But what happens when your manager’s decisions create more chaos than clarity? In this episode, you’ll get practical tools to shift that dynamic and build a stronger, more strategic relationship with your boss—no drama required.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

• A mindset shift and strategy to understand what really drives your manager (and their manager).
• Communication techniques to present ideas that actually get traction—backed by data and story.
• A smart, respectful way to say no or share feedback without damaging the relationship.

Hit play now and learn four proven communication tactics that will help you influence up and take more control of your work life.

Check out:

⏱ 2:00 – Why you can’t change your boss, but you can influence them

David breaks down the mindset shift that unlocks more control over your work reality without needing your manager to be someone they’re not.

⏱ 5:45 – The overlooked mistake people make when pitching ideas to their manager

Learn how to avoid falling flat by anticipating questions and pairing your data with a clear point of view.

⏱ 11:35 – The only approach that works for giving critical feedback to your boss

A step-by-step breakdown of how to ask permission, share your perspective, and preserve the relationship.

Leadership Without Using Your Soul podcast offers insightful discussions on leadership and management, focusing on essential communication skills, productivity, teamwork, delegation, and feedback to help leaders navigate various leadership styles, management styles, conflict resolution, time management, and active listening while addressing challenges like overwhelm, burnout, work-life balance, and problem-solving in both online and in-person teams, all aimed at cultivating human-centered leadership qualities that promote growth and success.

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