Getting the Buy-In for Your Patient Advocacy Initiatives (Part 2)

February 17, 2016 Oi Hua Lee

Step 1: Getting buy-in from yourself

Step 2: Getting buy-in from your peers

The key to getting the buy-in from your peers is trust, and one of the best ways to build it is to include them in your initiative.  You can start by telling them about your idea and the positive impact you believe it will have. Next, show them the research you’ve done that supports your arguments, and have a discussion about what the next steps should be. When they see that you’ve done your homework and really know what you’re talking about, they’ll be more eager to get involved.

It’s expected that not everyone will agree with you—some may even create roadblocks for you to overcome. Don’t let that bother you—it takes time for people to adjust to new ideas. Take a step back and truly listen to the feedback they have to offer and use it to refine your initiative. Persevere—keep talking about your initiative—and eventually your peers will come around. Most importantly, don’t forget to ask for help and involvement from your supporters, especially if your intended role is the instigator or cheerleader. 

To gain buy-in from your peers:
  • Find colleagues who have previous experience with your initiative 
  • Approach managers and executives to ask for advice and about funding
  • Talk to your peers about the initiative and identify the ones who ‘get it ‘ and get them involved
  • Have breakfast or lunch with peers who have influence to uncover ways that your initiative can help them

Be open. Stay positive. Keep talking. 

What's next? Here's Part 3: Getting buy-in from your manager.

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