ONE person stands between you and your next
raise or promotion: your boss. The act of asking your superior for
something important to your career progression may make you feel
vulnerable. So here are a few tips on actually having that conversation.
1.
Avoid assumptions by asking the right questions. Don’t approach
negotiations one-dimensionally, focusing only on your own desired
outcomes. Instead, you should take a collaborative
approach, building a clear bridge between your boss’s concerns and your
request. When formulating these questions, be curious about how to make
your request a win-win.
2. Gather context through open dialogue. Getting the lay of the land directly from your manager before asking for what you want can help you formulate a better strategy. Initiate an open dialogue tailored to the specific points you plan to soon negotiate.
3. Use "what if" responses. One way to build on your boss’s responses during the open dialogue stage is to have some "what if" responses ready to go. "What if" responses give you a way to further the conversation by suggesting specific actions that you might take when your boss makes a general suggestion.
4. Let the conversation evolve. Even if you execute a perfect ask, there may be circumstances beyond your control that cause your boss to reject your request. Keep an eye out for viable backup plans that emerge as the conversation unfolds. Even if you accept a Plan B as a result of your current negotiation with your boss, that’s no reason to give up completely on what you really want. If your manager denies your request the first time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that "no" is the final answer.
While you may not get what you want every time, if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
(Adapted from "Having the Here’s-What-I-Want Conversation with Your Boss" at HBR.org)
© 2015 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp
2. Gather context through open dialogue. Getting the lay of the land directly from your manager before asking for what you want can help you formulate a better strategy. Initiate an open dialogue tailored to the specific points you plan to soon negotiate.
3. Use "what if" responses. One way to build on your boss’s responses during the open dialogue stage is to have some "what if" responses ready to go. "What if" responses give you a way to further the conversation by suggesting specific actions that you might take when your boss makes a general suggestion.
4. Let the conversation evolve. Even if you execute a perfect ask, there may be circumstances beyond your control that cause your boss to reject your request. Keep an eye out for viable backup plans that emerge as the conversation unfolds. Even if you accept a Plan B as a result of your current negotiation with your boss, that’s no reason to give up completely on what you really want. If your manager denies your request the first time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that "no" is the final answer.
While you may not get what you want every time, if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
(Adapted from "Having the Here’s-What-I-Want Conversation with Your Boss" at HBR.org)
© 2015 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp
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