Timing your request carefully is vital; asking at a busy moment could be seen as insensitive by your manager, who likely already has plenty on their plate.
Muse career coach Valerie McMurray advises you to convince your manager why an extra project or task will benefit them and you and assess all associated advantages. Do your research, including gathering all potential personal and company benefits.
1. Make a List of Your Interests
Listing interests on your resume effectively shows you’re well-rounded; however, they shouldn’t replace work experience. Too many interests could make your resume appear scattered and turn off hiring managers.
When adding an interests section to your resume, select those which reflect the company culture you’re applying to. This will make your interests stand out amongst other applicants and demonstrate why you would make an ideal fit in their office environment.
Being mindful that your manager will prioritize company interests first, ask them for projects relevant to you that you would be passionate about tackling. Remember, they may already have someone lined up for this position; therefore, be ready to sell yourself and present your case if that’s the case.
2. Make a List of Your Skills
If you’re new to the workforce or switching careers, having a list of your job skills can help identify projects which best match your talents. Furthermore, your manager can use it as part of their evaluation of you for performance evaluation purposes.
Your list should include technical and workplace skills (often called hard and soft), such as verbal communication and attention to detail. When creating this list, try matching these up with the responsibilities and qualifications listed in an employment advertisement for the role in which you’re interested.
When discussing your list with your boss, try to focus on shared interests rather than making comparisons against those in the department. According to Crucial Conversations, doing this will encourage both parties to work together toward finding common objectives while making conversations more productive and positive.
3. Ask for Feedback
Receiving feedback can be an invaluable way of strengthening your work performance, but it must be accurate and useful. One surefire way to receive quality comments is by directly approaching your manager for it – showing dedication to developing yourself professionally while broadening your horizons.
Requesting feedback is another effective way of creating a harmonious working relationship with your boss. Regularly seeking their opinion on your performance can transform one-off conversations into ongoing dialogues that help advance you within your role.
When seeking feedback from your managers, your request must be explicit, and a time must be set up for a meeting – ideally in person, but for remote workers, this could also work via email.
Make sure to communicate what kind of feedback you want and why it matters to you, and give your manager ample notice so they can prepare.
Not only is it essential to set aside a specific date and time for meetings, but also setting an environment in which feedback will be received well. This may mean creating an emotionally secure space that reduces threat responses associated with unsolicited feedback – which can be accomplished by remaining open and accepting to receiving criticism while listening attentively.
After receiving feedback, acting upon it promptly and decisively is imperative. Doing this will demonstrate to your manager that they matter as suggestions are implemented and give her confidence that she has been heard and understood.
Feedback is a fundamental aspect of professional growth. Learning how to ask for and act upon it will enable you to build positive working relationships with managers and foster beneficial professional relationships based on honesty, guidance, and mentorship. When implemented effectively, feedback will take your work to new heights.
4. Schedule a Meeting
Your manager should be available and comfortable for this meeting to be successful, which could occur face-to-face or over the phone. To maximize time efficiently and avoid confusion during this meeting, documenting any mail exchanges about this topic (by writing them into emails or saving their responses) could help speed things up and ensure maximum efficiency during subsequent conversations.
Be clear when requesting a meeting about your desired outcome, whether asking your boss to assign you a project or discussing how best to approach current projects and future career goals. When asking for this meeting, being as specific as possible about what you expect can help your boss understand precisely what you require from them and give them all the information necessary for accommodating those needs.
Managers may express reservations about allowing you to undertake the project, such as fears that it will take up too much of their time or conflict with other workloads. Therefore, it’s wise to come prepared with answers for their potential concerns so you can reassure them that this project fits within your skillset and won’t become an unnecessary burden on the team.
A one-on-one meeting with your manager provides an excellent opportunity to broach this subject, as they will have your undivided attention for the duration. Furthermore, this provides an ideal time to demonstrate why you would be an ideal fit for this project and explain its benefits for both yourself and the company.
Ask for your meeting early in the week or, at minimum, one day before its proposed date. This gives your manager plenty of time to adjust their schedules accordingly and increases the odds that they agree to meet with you.