“Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

A Hit and a Miss

As I scanned across the board room, I was met with smiles and one stoic face. While the presentation was received with enthusiasm and even laughs (my silly graphics were a hit), there was one shareholder who wasn’t thrilled.

Despite the fact that I asked for feedback from everyone in the firm, there was one partner who never replied to my interview request. That one person crushed the overall positive sentiment of the group by her refusal to participate.

Be the Blessed

Having conducted hundreds of surveys and presented for various C-suite executives throughout my career, I’ve learned that no matter the audience, buy-in is crucial at every level of business decision-making.

If an idea or pitch is going to be accepted or approved, it is my responsibility to ensure all voices are included. I call it “blessed buy-in,” because at the heart of this goal is an attempt to be like Jesus, who reaches out to everyone and meets us at every stage of life.

It would be easier to dismiss the colleagues who fail to participate, show up, or contribute. And yet, I remind myself daily, my mission as a working Catholic woman is to reach out to everyone in my circle and engage them.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Gaining Buy-in

As I continue to grow in my faith, I reflect on past incidents at work where I could have acted differently, and I humbly accept the ways in which I’ve been taught to change.

I hear God remind me to serve “as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in [my] teaching, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be criticized” (Titus 2:7-8).

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned to acquire blessed buy-in on the job:

Include, Include, Include

Even when you’ve asked everyone to provide feedback, ask again. Circle back to everyone, and engage with people who haven’t responded.

Meet Colleagues Where They Are

What’s the best way to engage with a colleague who won’t respond? I have found that making small talk and inquiring about hobbies and passions are great ways to build rapport. Getting to know my colleagues and building trust first is imperative before soliciting input.

Stop and Pray

I like to move quickly. But stopping and taking a timeout to pray before any major decision or pitch at work is surrendering in faith. It’s important to say, “OK, God, I’ve done everything I could do. Now, you take care of it.”

What are some of the ways you garner blessed buy-in at work?

Lilia Grundy is University of Portland’s Pamplin School of Business’ Director of Corporate Partnerships with over 20 years of corporate experience (including Kraft Foods, NBC Television, and Telemundo). Lilia launched Catholic Women Professionals to inspire other working women to grow their faith. She is married to her high school sweetie Rob - they have beautiful twin girls who love art, music and learning about the Saints. Connect with Lilia at – LinkedIn • Instagram • Website

Blessed Buy-in