How to have a Career Conversation with Your Manager
Host Sheila Boysen-Rotelli is talking about how to have a career conversation with your manager. It might be nerve-racking, but at the end of the day, your career is in your own hands!
Episode Highlights:
Building a sustainable career means more than just showing up on time and doing a good job
If there is something that you want then just ask for it, it never hurts to ask
Hope is not a strategy and should not be relied on when you are trying to get something that you want
You need to be the person to take charge because, at the end of the day, it’s your career
There are plenty of reasons that you might want to have this conversation with your boss
You’re at a point in your career when you want more responsibility
You feel that a lack of updated skills has you stuck where you are
It’s time for a pay increase, as you see everyone around you being rewarded in a similar fashion
Ask yourself a few emotionless questions before you bring up your request to your manager
What’s the key issue that you want to address?
What are the external factors that you need to consider? (Is this the right person to ask? Is this the right time? What does success look like?)
There are rules in this conversation that will set the right tone and give you the best chance to succeed
Tread lightly when it comes to small talk as this is a natural side effect of nervousness
Recognize the things that your boss needs to hear in order to understand and support your request
Pay close attention to your body language and remember that it’s not a fight, it’s a request
Set up the conversation in a way that will keep the conversation on track
Present your case and your goal from the perspective that will benefit both sides
Provide supportive data without overwhelming them with numbers
Allow your boss to give you feedback by making sure to check in with them throughout the conversation
Acknowledge that you understood the feedback to keep the conversation on track
Prepare yourself to act appropriately in the case that your request might be denied
Make an attempt to understand why your request has been turned down
Just because it is not granted now does not mean it will not be granted in the future
Thank them for their time, regardless of the outcome
3 Key Points:
Just ask your manager when you want something regarding your career. It never hurts to ask and simply hoping won’t get you anywhere.
There are a plethora of factors to consider before having a conversation with your boss, such as timing, their power to help, and what success even looks like to you.
Approach your boss with empathy and remember that they are human and are most likely under quite a bit of stress. This is simply a request, not a fight.
Tweetable Quote
“Sometimes, to get what we want, we have to ask for it directly.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli
“It is hard to ask for what we think we’re worth or what we think we need.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli
“We can either wait for good things to find us or we can go out and pursue them with intention and purpose.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli
“Asking for feedback can feel scary...that’s a risk that we’re just going to have to take.” - Sheila Boysen-Rotelli
Resources Mentioned:
Contact Sheila at sheila@professionalsuccesscoaching.com
Fast Track Your Job Search: fasttrackyourjobsearch.com