Few people relish the idea of arguing with their boss--especially if the boss is the CEO--but CIOs often find themselves facing that kind of confrontation. The secret to convincing a chief executive to see your side of the story is in understanding his or her leadership style, personality, communication method and decision-making, writes Meridith Levinson at CIO magazine.

Drawing from the experiences of CIOs and consultants, Levinson presents 13 ways to win an argument with the CEO. Communicating in the language of business and always behaving with respect are fairly obvious tips, but other suggestions are further off the beaten path.

It's crucial to understand the CEO's personality and leadership style because that helps determine the best approach to a discussion. Some chief executives are risk takers and like to make decisions quickly, in which case a CIO should be as succinct as possible. Other CEOs are more conservative, which may mean that a CIO will have to present a case several times before getting the desired response.

When you get pushback from the CEO, do not take it personally. It is part of the CEO's job to seek out weak spots in arguments, so try not to get emotional or defensive when questions are raised. Approach the chief executive only after building support for your idea from elsewhere around the organization, and always give realistic answers to questions, avoiding over-promising.

In the end, you have to know when to cut your losses. If you feel very strongly about your argument and can't find any way to convince the CEO, it may be best to resign. If you are confident that a project is going to fail because of the way the top leadership wants it implemented, for example, it is better to find a new job than end up being associated with the failure.

For more:
- see Meridith Levinson's article at CIO

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