living the world of hers; contradictions

Getting What You Want At Work

We all get different things out of work. Some do it simply to pay the bills, others get a profound sense of who they are from their work; the job fulfills them and it's really not about the money. Some want to be promoted and earn more money so they can buy more things. Others cherish the opportunity to do things they would not have been able to do otherwise.

What about you? What do you want at work? And are you getting it?

If you think your job goals don't look any nearer with each passing day, here are four simple rules you can follow to help you get what you want.

1) Ask. That seems pretty simple, but often at work we're afraid to express what we want. We may assume that other people know what we're thinking because it's so obvious to us. Or we may think that if we continue to work hard enough, we'll be rewarded. If you want a promotion or a raise, don't assume that your boss knows it. Let him or her know clearly that you are interested.

2) Show What's In It For Them. Think about how it will benefit the other person and tell them. For example, if you want to hire additional staff you need to consider how it will help your boss. Will it give you more time to work on projects that your boss really cares about? Will it allow your boss to delegate more work to you, so it will save him or her time?

3) Build a Business Case. If you want to hire more people or get more money for a project, you need to show how this will benefit the company. A business exists to make money after all. So explain how your idea will increase productivity, increase customer satisfaction, or positively affect the bottom line. Suggestions that are tied to the company's success, rather than your personal needs, are more likely to get accepted.

4) Be Persistent. Just because you ask for something doesn't mean that you're going to get it. Even if you get a "no" the first time you ask, don't let that stop you. A negative response can be changed. For example, if you ask for a raise, the answer may be "no" today because it is not the scheduled time for a raise at your company. In that case, ask your manager what you can do in advance to make sure you get a raise when the time is right. Or maybe, you haven't presented enough information for the other person to say "yes". Can you show where you have saved money, made money, or made a difference to the bottom line? That's the information managers need in order to say "yes".

Following these four rules won't guarantee that you'll get what you want, but they will greatly increase your chances of getting a positive response.

posted by JL @ 11:45 PM