How do you get a new boss’s attention when he has been ignoring your work for months?

He might refuse and that may not be personal if he’s a new boss, because he may be stressed out about something else and his ignoring you may not be about you.

However, he will hopefully be intrigued by your request and want to know what you had in mind since if the group achieved great results, that would be a big plus for him.

When you meet, say to him,

“Thanks again for the taking the time to meet. What is something that would be impossible for us to achieve as a group, but if we could achieve it would greatly accelerate our positive results?”

In all likelihood, he’ll initially be confused and you might have to repeat it.

The Impossibility Question (source: The Impossibility Question) is a great way to cause someone to think outside the box and people often like to think about it because it can rapidly make them better.

Then after he responds, say to him:

“What would make that possible?”

Then say,

“And while we’re thinking outside the box, what is something that I could get done to greatly help that happen (or you can come up with an idea and see what he thinks)?”

Why do this?

Because when you can get someone to think outside the box and beyond transactional solutions, they often appreciate it and you.