Spotify Description

In this episode of the Now What? Podcast, Glenn Sharp explores one of the most important yet overlooked leadership skills — communicating effectively with your boss.

Every manager encounters a moment when their boss steps in to make a decision or take control of a situation. How you handle that conversation determines whether you earn trust or create frustration.

Glenn introduces the Birthday Cake Method, a practical framework for “communicating up” the chain of command. The principle is simple: don’t go after the candle first. Build the conversation layer by layer—start with the foundation of trust and understanding before reaching the top.

Through real stories and examples, Glenn demonstrates how this approach can transform workplace dynamics:

• The Boss Conversation – How to ask clear, respectful questions that give you space to lead:“Do you trust me?”“Do you agree I know my employees best?”“Can you please let me make the decision?”

• The Bartender Story – Why empathy and emotional connection are often more powerful than authority.

• The CEO Conversation – How to gain executive buy-in by asking questions that uncover the real problem:“Do you have a turnover problem?”“What are the costs?”“What if I could get turnover below ten percent?”

This episode helps leaders at every level communicate upward with clarity, confidence, and credibility—turning difficult conversations into opportunities for partnership and progress.

Learn more at ⁠readnowwhat.com⁠ or subscribe on YouTube: ⁠Now What? Podcast Feed⁠.