As much as possible, always deal with the boss. The highest ranked official possible with necessary powers to grant you what you came for. Be wary of pitching and trying to convince some random staff or manager. They do not have the power to say YES, yet they will most likely say NO and turn you down.
That is why your proposals are not meant for the ears of the random branch manager of a remote branch. Get in the vehicle or on a plane and seek out the Boss wherever she may be.
I have seen it play out over and over again… discussions with staff members lead no where, only for the boss to come around and grant me what I needed. You have to realise that most of these staff and managers are simply “guns for hire” and not true believers in the company’s mission, they are merely here to work for their next pay, they are not ready to rock the boat or go an extra mile for you.
Next time you have an idea or a proposal to discuss with an establishment, insist that what you have is for the eyes and ears of the Boss only. Besides, if the person you are dealing with cannot say YES without further meetings with an upper management, why give her the power to say NO and end the business right there?
