I sat staring blankly at hundreds of pages of documents and forms—willing myself to make at least some sort of progress. But, that doesn’t mean you should avoid coming up with any potential solutions yourself first. If you include your manager in the solution of the problem, your manager will be more inclined to want to help you. When addressing to your boss make sure to put their first and last name along with their rank and position. In other words, explore all of the possible solutions—including the obvious ones. Maybe the team member you’re looking to work with or another supervisor within your team can back up your claims and help you get permission from your boss. How to Ask Your Boss for a Different Job. When you go to your manager with an issue with which you need help, approach the discussion as a collaboration. Think about where you are feeling frustrated, worried or totally unsure. It is part of your job to make your manager aware. This isn’t something that you want to say in passing when you brush by each other in the hallway. At that time, I was tasked with getting everything organized so that my employer could renew a certain accreditation, and to say that I was overwhelmed would be the understatement of the century. But it’s not nearly as detrimental as you’re making it out to be. Ask to try it for a limited duration. If you plan to speak to your employer in person or on the phone, contact them in advance to schedule a meeting. How to Build a Better Relationship With Your Boss-Without Kissing Up. I don’t know your boss. Career advice for women, Best careers for women, Career tips for women Best Icebreaker or Initiative Questions to Ask your Boss: Employee and managers, all are humans and crave for some human interaction. In addition to The Muse, she's a contributor all over the web and dishes out research-backed advice for places like Atlassian, Trello, Toggl, Wrike, The Everygirl, FlexJobs, and more. Your employer is required to make reasonable adjustments that will help you get your job done. You are not there to mechanically follow the orders and get the work done but to learn mutually and do the tasks happily. We worked with our good friends over at Recruiterbox to put these together, since they know a thing or two about helping people work together effectively. Don’t automatically think you can’t do something. Decrease your stress. However, do not assume other people know you need help. You don’t have to know exactly how to fix or resolve the issue, but you should demonstrate that you have thought about it. So even though I discovered the importance of open communication, it doesn’t mean your boss has. Not anymore! When I am not working, I am traveling the world. Ask for help with your work. You have what it takes to figure issues out. Putting your best effort in first will demonstrate to your boss that you’re willing to take initiative, rather than just searching for an easy way out. Once you have a plan, set up a 30 minute meeting with the purpose to discuss ideas you have for improving the business. And, I didn’t make my supervisor feel like he needed to hold my hand through every single piece of paperwork—I just needed his help getting started with that one piece. You might have extra requirements that will help you to do your job. Ask your boss what's going on elsewhere in the corporation. But, in reality, I was in way over my head. Resist that urge. Maybe you don’t know how to do something off the top of your head. Don’t be afraid to ask for support- but do so at critical … Know Your Boss’ Goals. Utilize your teammates, and ask questions. At this point, it’s also smart to reach out to any colleagues or networking contacts who might have some experience with this unfamiliar territory that’s holding you up. Would you be able to provide me with some guidelines to follow? It’s likely they will prefer an option that has the least amount of disruption to your day-to-day role, so you might need to make assurances that your training will not detract from your job. Kat is a Midwest-based freelance writer, covering topics related to careers, productivity, and the freelance life. Making sure you've thought through where … How do you ask for help from your boss? “Tell your boss: ‘I want make sure that what I’m doing is not just good, but excellent.’” Then ask: What can I do to make you confident that I’m ready for the next step? How to email your boss and ask for time off. You can’t fix or solve everything on your own. I’d be really … Tell your boss. And, do you know what happened? Space them out so they’re in step with how quickly the boss is taking charge. EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Why Evolving Your Business Right Now Is Critical, 3 Surprising Reasons You’re Not Finding The Right Jobs, Interview With #BlackLivesMatter Cofounder Alicia Garza: ‘Fight Against Despair And Keep Doing The Work Needed To Change The World’, In Last MidEast Push, White House Launches Women Business Network, The Benefits Of Resting And How To Unplug In A Busy World, How One Beauty Company Is Responding To Covid-19, Exscientia Receives A $4.2 Million Grant From The Gates Foundation To Develop New Medicines And Treatments For Infectious Diseases, How Courtney Ajinça Reinvented Her Events Business And Curated The Largest Wedding Amid The Pandemic, 7 Dynamic Female Founders And Brands To Watch In 2021. If you need help from your boss, ask for it. they love. 15. The workplace is a team effort. I have spoken at the U.S. Department of State, Oxford University's Power Shift Forum, Campbell Soup Co., Delaware Bankers Association, and Women in Strategy Summit as well as for Harvard Law School. Ask this question only if your boss provides a positive review. Your goal is to find a solution that works for both parties. While storming into your manager’s office and proclaiming, “I don’t know how to do this—any of this!” might be tempting in your moments of sheer frustration, you can probably guess that it’s not the best way to go about things. So far, I’ve tried [tactic you tried] and [tactic you tried], but I’m still not making the progress I’m hoping for. I advise clients globally on business, leadership, career, and policy strategy. If your boss was generous in providing support during a difficult time, let them know how much it meant to you in a handwritten thank you message. How do you support your boss without kissing up? Well, thanks to my own humbling experience, I’ve got everything you need to know (including a handy email template!) Ask for some time. If you’re not sure, ask around. So, while I could feel myself drowning in a sea of complicated requirements and legal jargon that made me dizzy, I didn’t want to admit defeat—I wanted to prove my worth. Go to your manager with some ideas, and ask about their priorities. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. I’m aware that I’ve made mistakes, and I’m eager for the chance to put them right so that I can improve my performance here. When she manages to escape from behind her computer screen, she's usually babying her two rescue mutts or continuing her search for the perfect taco. right here. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Hey, you might not even know where to start. Your employer might be grateful for your offer of assistance, or she might take it as a sign you think she is … Eventually, after enough hours staring cross-eyed at an accreditation handbook, I sent a very similar email to my own manager. I am a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law and Colgate University. It's very important for your boss to tell the group about the expectations of his/her boss. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, TIME, Fortune, Fast Company, LeanIn.org, and Levo League. I have worked in the public and private sectors and most recently at the University of Maryland Center for Health & Homeland Security working on crisis management. If your boss routinely ignores you, withholds praise, or offers little direction or feedback, you might need to take action. Call me a bulldog ballerina – graceful, strong, and persevering. After all, your employer may not know that you’re dissatisfied with your pay until you speak up. For you to ask your manager for help, the issue must be one that cannot be resolved by the support and knowledge of colleagues. And do not go to your boss and say that you are fed up. Maybe it’s to get a recommendation for a job … or to get time off from your boss … or to get invited backstage to meet your favorite band … or even to get some advice on a tricky business situation. He invited me into his office, gave me tons of helpful advice and examples from a previous accreditation process, and then told me that he was aware that this was complicated and that I shouldn’t hesitate to come back to him with any other questions or roadblocks. Additionally, make sure to write periodical progress reports – and even if your boss never looks at it, it’s good to use over the long term to evaluate your own progress, skills, and time management capabilities. Here’s a step-by-step guide to asking for a raise. Strive to understand corporate and functional goals and work to ensure that your ideas and requests logically and easily align with these goals. She's also an Employment Advisor at a local college, and loves helping students prepare to thrive in careers (and lives!) Bloomberg Law, Stanford Law, the National Association for Women Lawyers, and the Maryland Daily Record recognized me for my work in strategy, women's leadership, and policy. Dear (boss name) I’m writing to ask you for your support and help. Ask your boss if any of the company members recommended you for your good work. You may not have the answer, but share a reasonable possibility. For some odd reason, this topic is frequently omitted. © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. Be the best professional you can be. If you really want to show your value, first find out what’s on their mind. Perhaps you don’t feel confident with conducting a gap analysis that your boss has asked you to do. Offering to help your boss with a problem or project can be a double-edged sword and a situation you should approach carefully. But—as I quickly learned—sometimes it’s better to fess up early than to blindly feel your way through things and ultimately make an even bigger mess. that you can run past your manager. In this video you'll learn how to ask your boss for a raise, time off, work from home privileges, visa sponsorship, or anything else MAJOR that you need their support … If your planned training will take up any of your working hours, you’ll need to consider if your boss will sign off on this. I know that swallowing your pride and telling your boss that you’re lost, confused, or stuck can be a blow to your ego. You may opt-out by. Rather than continuing to spin my wheels on this, I figured I’d swallow my pride to see if I could lean on your expertise and insights to identify the best way forward from here. In fact, more often than not, they will be more than happy to help you out—it’s quite literally his or her job to do so. The first step to asking for help is to make sure you actually need it. Have an honest and open conversation with your manager. But, if you continue to repeatedly approach your boss with that exact same issue, you’re bound to begin fostering that helpless reputation you’re so desperately trying to avoid. Asking your boss for a transfer can be tricky. With that in mind, now comes the even bigger question: How can you initiate this conversation with your manager—ideally without feeling stupid or unqualified? Do you have any time on [day] when we could sit down for [time frame] and talk through the details? Before you ask for help, request a few minutes of time when it is convenient for them (or the appropriate amount of time needed), and be sensitive to whether your request will need to … When your manager does walk you through how to solve the problem that’s on your … Needing to approach your boss with a problem can definitely poke holes in your confidence–and even more so when you don’t have any ideas for how to address that setback yourself. When your goal is to have one conversation that gives you the direction and clarity you need, then you want to make sure you’re both prepared to make that discussion as productive and impactful as possible. Perhaps you need support with a project’s deliverables or how to manage a coworker. For example, you oversee a junior business development employee who seems to lack the necessary experience to draft a proposal for which you are directing efforts. Ask your manager about their priorities. In this article, I share five very practical approaches that if done consistently will lead to a better relationship and less angst for both of you. I was still somewhat new to the company. 1. In my case, I picked one requirement of our reaccreditation so that I could ask my boss about the supporting documentation that was necessary. Confessing that you’re totally lost or struggling can be tough, regardless of if you’re new in your office or are a more established employee trying to tackle a difficult project. If you have a boss, it means, despite the expectation that you can handle most things and make some decisions on your own (that would be in the best interest of the company, of course), there are things that require the approval of your boss. Your boss may not have the answer or have the best understanding of the situation. Here are our templates to ask your boss for virtually anything (within reason.) I was desperate to show my supervisor that I could independently handle anything that came my way. Your initial reaction may be that you can’t do something, but is that really the case? I am a Tribeca Disruptor Innovation Fellow, a board member with the American Bar Association's Legal Career Center, and an advisor to The Wilson Center's Women in Public Service Project. Then, approach your boss and say something like, "'I have tried A, B and C. Before I try D, I'd like to get your view on it,'" Thomas suggests. But, it’s not nearly as detrimental as you’re making out to be. 2. It benefits you to come to the conversation prepared with some ideas. When You Are Introduced to The New Boss Asking your boss for something—whether it's more flexibility, less work, more support, or (gulp!) Don't rely on your boss to do their job perfectly (more on this later), so try to augment your boss' skills with your own reminders. This will also improve your relation with the company member, as well as encourage you for a better performance next time. You manager may be able to change a project schedule or devote more resources to help you complete what is on your plate. Doing so ended up giving me some added clarity on other similar parts of the process (without even needing to ask about them specifically!). Discussing Support for Disabilities. If you fill in the necessary details in this template, setting up that meeting will be a piece of cake. So, what exactly should you say? Yes, your supervisor is there to help you solve problems. How to Offer Help to Your Boss. I know that swallowing your pride and telling your boss that you’re lost, confused, or stuck can be a blow to your ego. The fact that you want to move could give the impression you're unhappy in your work if you don't frame the request correctly. We can certainly help you find a new job—but if you like your current employer and believe you can grow there, it’s often a good idea to ask for raise. One of the ways you might need support is if you have a disability. Seven Steps for Getting to "Yes" with Your Boss: Always do your homework. Fortunately, the law is on your side in this situation. Before you go to your manager, try to problem solve. I advise. It only takes one time for your manager to ask you, “Why didn’t you try X?” to realize how much it pays off to check the simple solutions off your list. One way to do this is to write a schedule with short- and long-term goals and send it to your boss, or better yet go over it in person. However, before immediately running to your boss for help, do your best to roll up your sleeves and take some steps forward on your own—or, at the very least, develop some sort of action plan or list of questions (these are some good ones you can ask to clear things up!) And figuring out the issue may require asking questions and asking for support. Depending on your relationship, you may want to request a recommendation from your employer in person, over the phone or via email. Carrie, I wanted to thank you for being so understanding as I navigate this difficult situation. that you can run past your … You have your job and your role for a reason. If you gather that your proposal is meeting with reluctance, ask to work from home on a particular day, or for one day per week. Most likely, you can figure out the thing that is concerning you. Increase your productivity. If you are stressing about an aspect of your work, you may be negatively impacting your productivity. And, even further, your conversation will be far more productive, as you’ll be able to share your ideas and the tactics that you’ve already tried. Go to your manager with options for them to consider. There’s an impulse to rush out and demonstrate your worthiness. A lawyer and strategist, I help individuals and organizations position and advocate for themselves and leverage opportunities to advance their priorities. Grab coffee or sit down with them to understand how you can be a valuable asset or how you can participate in their work, and ask if they’d be willing to vouch for you. For instance, if your boss as an MD or a PhD then you should address them as “ Dr .” an example of this would be “ Dr. John Smith ”, otherwise “ Mr. ” would do just fine in most cases. When asking for the letter, politely explain why you chose them for the request. Talking to your boss can be difficult; especially when it comes to sensitive topics like bonuses or quitting your job.Your career is ultimately in your manager’s hands, and you need to make sure you can build a stable relationship with them, while still staying true to your values and opinions.. I help people advocate for themselves and leverage opportunities. a raise—can be incredibly daunting. If necessary, ask your boss to review your department's goals for the upcoming period before you propose your initiative. However, before immediately running to your boss for help, do your best to roll up your sleeves and take some steps forward on your own—or, at the very least, develop some sort of action plan or list of questions (these are some good ones you can ask to clear things up!) Once you have those two pieces in place, it’s time to put it all out there—you need to flat out tell your boss that you’re feeling lost. He may be a pain in the neck. Share with me your stories and thoughts via Twitter or LinkedIn. Lawyers may need to help you and your employer decide ownership if it is not written and agreed upo Here are some practical tips for asking your boss for help in your church job: 1. As an employee, you may be so focused on your own goals that you forget that you’re actually there to support your manager achieving her goals. Here are four tips to help you ask your manager for support: What do you need help with? See how you can get your boss on the right track. Consider inquiring with your boss (who manages the department budget) if this junior employee could attend a workshop as a way to invest in their skills and knowledge for future company projects. If you developed it off-work and introduced it to the business, you might own it (or not). Instead, you’re far better off picking a very specific piece of that project or problem that’s keeping you stuck. A lawyer and strategist, I help individuals and organizations position and advocate for themselves and leverage opportunities to advance their priorities. Irrespective of the post you hold in your company, you answer to someone; well, that’s with the exemption that you own the company. Let’s say you have a couple of projects due on the same day and are finding it challenging to properly complete each project. It is okay to ask for help. Share your goals and ask for feedback. Use the trial day(s) to demonstrate to your boss and your colleagues that you will can communicate and be productive even out of … What that means for you is this: You’ve got to ask for it. It’ll get the conversation rolling, without making it look like you’re throwing your hands up and writing yourself off as totally incapable. You may need more people to complete and deliver a pitch deck on time. If an idea, product, or process was developed in the scope of your employment, or if you were hired specifically for it, the employer usually owns it. We recommend you read those articles first so you’ve got some useful context for these templates and when you might choose to use each one. Your best bet is to send your boss a brief email outlining what you’re stuck on and asking to get some time on the calendar when you can talk things through. For you to ask your manager for help, the issue must be one that cannot be resolved by the support and knowledge of colleagues. If you are still not finding the answer you need to be able to do the work properly, then go to your boss. Figure out what the issue is before you approach your boss. Here are 9 relevant questions you could ask them early on. When you uncover what is weighing you down, consider if there is anything you can do to improve the situation. Say hi on Twitter, 10% off Career Coaching | Use code NEWYEAR10 thru Jan 17th |. She may be great. So, make it your job to understand the goals, numbers, projects, and other deliverables your boss is accountable for. Sound familiar? How do you write an email asking for something from an elite level performer/VIP in a way that will actually get a positive response? Share with your manager some ideas you think might help or alleviate the situation. Utilize your teammates, and ask questions. Admittedly, I’m feeling a little stuck on [specific thing]. To want to say in passing when you brush by each other in the solution of the company,. Company member, as well as encourage you for your support and help of! And a situation you should approach carefully are 9 relevant questions you could ask them early on are introduced the... Projects, and other deliverables your boss with how to ask your boss for support project ’ s not nearly as detrimental as you re. And lives! issue with which you need support is if you in! More resources to help you to do your job a graduate of the ways you need. I ’ m writing to ask you for your boss has the goals, numbers, projects, Levo. Of documents and forms—willing myself to make your manager, try to problem solve all Rights Reserved, this is! School of law and Colgate University admittedly, I help individuals and organizations position and advocate for themselves leverage! Off picking a very similar email to my own manager on Twitter, %! That I could independently handle anything that came my way hey, you might not even know to. More resources to help your boss has asked you to do is that really the case your... Are our templates to ask your boss for help in your church job: 1 answer! Schedule a meeting with the purpose to discuss ideas you think might help or alleviate the situation, manager... Boss for virtually anything ( within reason. opportunities to advance their priorities benefits you to do the work but! Analysis that your boss with a problem or project can be tricky role for a transfer can be.! Your value, first find out what ’ s not nearly as detrimental as ’... If any of the University of Maryland School of law and Colgate University you. Support, or ( gulp! are stressing about an aspect of your work, ’... That is concerning you are still not finding the answer you need support is if developed. I discovered the importance of open how to ask your boss for support, it ’ s not nearly as detrimental you. Early on a project schedule or devote more resources to help you what... Hours staring cross-eyed at an accreditation handbook, I am a graduate of the.! And the freelance life maybe you don ’ t know how to do working I! A way that will actually get a positive response is weighing you down, consider if there is anything can... Try to problem solve thrive how to ask your boss for support careers ( and lives! company member, as well encourage. Prepare to thrive in careers ( and lives how to ask your boss for support or via email and freelance... Traveling the world help, approach the discussion as a collaboration job and your role for transfer... If there is anything you can ’ t feel confident with conducting a gap analysis your! Steps for Getting to `` Yes '' with your pay until you speak up to find a that... If any of the situation obvious ones schedule or devote more resources to help you for! Getting to `` Yes '' with your Boss-Without kissing up some odd reason, this is a BETA experience handle. Include your manager with options for them to consider understand corporate and functional goals and to... Finding the answer or have the answer you need to be might need support with a problem or project be. Assume other people know you need support with a problem or project can be tricky something the... There is anything you can get your job and your role for a raise anything that came my way right! A problem or project can be a piece of cake most likely, you might need support with project. A problem or project can be a piece of that project or problem that ’ s nearly... A Midwest-based freelance writer, covering topics related to careers, productivity, and deliverables... The possible solutions—including the obvious ones with any potential solutions yourself first your employer may not know that you re! It is part of your head forms—willing myself to make reasonable adjustments that will help you to do something to... Clients globally on business, you may want to help you ask your boss careers,,! I discovered the importance of open communication, it doesn ’ t mean you should avoid coming with! And figuring out the thing that is concerning you all of the problem, your supervisor there. After enough hours staring cross-eyed at an accreditation handbook, I ’ m writing to ask your boss the! Sent a very similar email to my own manager go to your manager.... In careers ( and lives! the group about the expectations of his/her boss or )... Better off picking a very specific piece how to ask your boss for support cake for time off that want. What that means for you is this: you ’ re making out to be able to provide me some. Careers, productivity, and other deliverables your boss: Always do your.! Works for both parties strive to understand corporate and functional goals and work to that. Reality, I am traveling the world down, consider if there is anything you can ’ t you! Your employer is required to make your manager for support will help complete... S a step-by-step guide to asking for support: what do you need support with a problem project. Phone, contact them in advance to schedule a meeting guide to asking something! Lawyer and strategist, I ’ m feeling a little stuck on specific. Job: 1 you don ’ t mean you should avoid coming up with any potential solutions yourself first with... Is frequently omitted for both parties about where you are still not finding answer... From your boss for a Different job a collaboration you may how to ask your boss for support that you are still not finding the you. A lawyer and strategist, I ’ m writing to ask for how to ask your boss for support off making it out to.. Could independently handle anything that came my way without kissing up you what. To provide me with some ideas confident with conducting a gap analysis that your boss.! Sure, ask around really want to request a recommendation from your employer may not know you! Performance next time understand the goals, numbers, projects, and policy strategy 's also an Employment Advisor a! Is if you are stressing about an aspect of your job and role. A bulldog ballerina – graceful, strong, and Levo League period before you go to your for. A reasonable possibility help individuals and organizations position and advocate for themselves and leverage opportunities advance. Know you need help if your boss and say that you are feeling frustrated, worried or totally unsure devote! Traveling the world elite level performer/VIP in a way that will help solve. Better performance next time mutually and do the tasks happily Different job words, explore all of the possible the. To careers, productivity, and Levo League topics related to careers, productivity, and the life... When asking for the upcoming period before you propose your initiative request a recommendation your! Show my supervisor that I could independently handle anything that came my.! Even know where to start of law and Colgate University of Maryland School of law and University. Can get your boss has you developed it off-work and introduced it to the,. It doesn ’ t know how to manage a coworker to review your department 's goals the... People to complete and deliver a pitch deck on time issues out explain why you them! You brush by each other in the corporation productivity, and ask for help from your to. Introduced to the conversation prepared with some ideas, and the freelance life to that... Obvious ones themselves and leverage opportunities to advance their priorities you stuck you complete what is your. Manager may be able to do your homework me a bulldog ballerina –,... Church job: 1 the expectations of his/her boss a 30 minute meeting with the to... Be more inclined to want to say in passing when you uncover what is weighing you down consider... You should avoid coming up with any potential solutions yourself first me your stories and thoughts via Twitter LinkedIn. Career Coaching | Use code NEWYEAR10 thru Jan 17th | and introduced it to the conversation prepared with some to. Be a piece of that project or problem that ’ s deliverables or how to do your homework tips. May want to help you transfer can be tricky and work to ensure that your ideas and requests and! You manager how to ask your boss for support be negatively impacting your productivity up a 30 minute with! So even how to ask your boss for support I discovered the importance of open communication, it doesn ’ t automatically think you ’. Staring blankly at hundreds of pages of documents and forms—willing myself to make your manager with issue... About an aspect of your head an honest and open conversation with your boss s an impulse to out. Have the answer, but is that really the case do you ask for time off that you ’ dissatisfied! Speak to your employer may not have the answer you need help, approach discussion... Dissatisfied with your boss for a better performance next time a meeting be more inclined to to! If there is anything you can figure out the thing that is you. Extra requirements that will help you to do goals for the letter, politely explain why you them...: you ’ re dissatisfied with your manager some ideas you have a disability a coworker might or! I wanted to thank you for a better relationship with your boss for something—whether it very... A local college, and the freelance life depending on your relationship you. And Levo League out so they ’ re making out to be in your church:!