How to ask your boss for anything

You want to ask your boss for that one important thing. You know what we’re talking about – a raise, a promotion, a day off, an extension on a deadline, potential flexi-work arrangement. When it comes to all the above, there’s a ton of fear to ask for what you want. It’s things like this that causes a lot of anxiety for a lot of us, but when you finally get down to asking, you’ll realise, hey it’s not that difficult after all.

And you know why? Because you picked up on these tips on how you can ask your boss for anything!

First things first, let’s tackle the fear of why we find it difficult to ask for the things we want. It often begins with the fear that we don’t deserve it. Of course, if you’ve not been working hard or meeting your KPIs, asking your boss for a raise or a promotion can be unreasonable. But here’s the deal: When you’ve done enough (and we’re sure you know what’s enough!), nothing should stop you from getting what you deserve.

Then there is the fear of rejection – the worry that your boss will take a look at you, pretend to listen, and say no. Let us ask you this: If you don’t ask for what you want, how are you ever going to get it? So wave that fear of rejection goodbye!

Worried that by asking for something, it might backfire and you potentially lose your good graces with your boss? If this is a constant worry, you need to ask yourself whether there’s more to this fear. Could your boss be giving you unnecessary anxiety so you often find yourself having to tip-toe around him? If this is the case, perhaps instead of asking your boss for what you want, you need to ask yourself if this is a person you want to work for in the first place!

Now, ready to get out there and get what you deserve? Here are our top tips.

#1 Be ready
It’s never a good idea to just blurb “Hey, can I talk to you about a potential raise” following your weekly update meeting with the boss. Treat this as a separate meeting that needs to be scheduled in and therefore, needs to be prepared for in advance! Also, when you pencil in an appointment with your boss to discuss this, you know in advance that D-Day is coming instead of constantly wondering when and if there is ever a good time and place for the discussion (pointer: there’s never a better time than the time you are actually sitting down and discussing what you want to ask!). Speak to your boss about when a good time is with a short, simple but also professional request. You don’t have to go into details yet about what you want to discuss. Merely give her a head’s up but be specific too so your boss doesn’t have to spend the days before the meeting wondering what’s up.

#2 Be nice!
When was the last time you got something you wanted by being rude? We are guessing never. When it comes to asking your boss (or anyone else for that matter) for something, we suggest playing the nice card. Regardless of your relationship with your boss, he is likely to respond much better to your request when you ask politely rather than when you demand. Doing the latter makes you come across as entitled, and that’s not a good strategy when you want to ask your boss for anything. Be respectful, be nice, and don’t forget your Ps and Qs.

#3 Be flexible
Be ready to compromise on some of your wants. Say you want to work three days at home but your boss says two is the best he can do. Take it because it’s better than a no! Sometimes, you may not get exactly what you want but getting something close enough is better than not getting anything at all. Before you approach your boss, think of the alternatives you’re willing to put up with or how you can meet in the middle so both parties are happy with the end result.

#4 Be grateful
Having a boss who takes time to sit down and listen to what you want is a great start. Having a boss who says yes to your wants is a bonus. Essentially, you want to be working for someone who is flexible and understanding enough to know that their staff have wants that need to be met. And you want to have a boss who is willing to listen, consider what you’re asking, and then give it to you – whether meeting you all the way or halfway. When you go in for that scheduled meeting, don’t forget to show gratitude. Thank your boss first for taking time off to meet with you and thank your boss for all the guidance he has given you. Then state your case and whatever the outcome, don’t forget to express your gratitude. A dose of gratitude can go a long way – especially if you want to ask your boss for something else later down the road!

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash.