How To Request A Boss Service Manual

How to Ask Your Boss 11 Tough Questions + The Scripts You Need

We're taking the mystery out of asking your boss for what you need.

Request your boss for something—whether information technology's a enhance, vacation time, or more piece of work—can exist a scary proposition. But why?

There'southward a ton of fear effectually asking for what yous want or—gasp!—what yous experience you deserve in the workplace. Even in 2022, bacon and money are yet seen equally very taboo topics (sidenote: that'south why we created The Salary Project™, and then check it out.)

"Practice I need to expect for my performance review to ask for something?"

No, you lot don't. Annual reviews are great for talking points around your task function, your happiness at piece of work, and any clarifications or additions to your job description. However, if there is something pressing correct now, so right now is actually the perfect time.

We know, it's anxiety-inducing to think of request your boss for specifics, but that's part of their job description; to manage their employees and guide them upwardly their career ladders.

Moreover, an ability to communicate openly and respectfully with your boss is guaranteed to earn yous respect and trust going forwards in your career. Translation: once yous work upwards the nerves to inquire for something the first time, it will become easier.

If you want to skip ahead to the asks, you tin can go ahead:

How to Inquire Your Boss to Stay Remote
How to Ask Your Boss for a Raise
How to Tell Your Boss You're Leaving
How to Ask Your Dominate for a Promotion
How to Ask Your Boss for a Day Off
How to Ask Your Boss for a Coming together
How to Ask Your Boss to Piece of work From Home
How to Inquire Your Boss for More Piece of work
How to Ask Your Dominate for Back up
How To Ask Your Boss for Learning Resources Reimbursements
How To Inquire Your Boss for a Four-Day Workweek
How to Ask Your Dominate for a Performance Evaluation

Asking for anything can be uncomfortable, just let's dive into why information technology's that way in the first place.

Why It'southward And then Scary to Ask Your Boss for What Yous Need (+ Deserve!)

To begin to tackle your fear backside request for what y'all want, you'll demand to first identify where your fear is rooted. 4 common fears in asking for a pay bump or other changes are:

Fear That You Don't Deserve Information technology

This is pretty common and can come upwardly at any fourth dimension, for whatsoever ask. This is classic impostor syndrome—and information technology's important to exist able to recognize it and shut it downwardly.

Hither's the deal. If you're asking for a heighten, nosotros trust you lot've washed your research and crunched the numbers. If impostor syndrome is still garbling in your ear, shut them out.

Fearfulness of Rejection

If you don't ask for what you want, you don't always betrayal yourself to the gamble that someone will say no. That'southward how rejection-based fear works.

Simply, as any erstwhile inspirational basketball affiche will tell you, "Y'all miss 100 percent of the shots you don't accept." Take the shot.

Fear of Negotiation

Negotiation can be scary, particularly when information technology involves coin. Nosotros're not here to tell yous that negotiation is easy and tin can be learned overnight. Notwithstanding, nosotros are here to tell you that knowledge is power.

Fright of Task Loss

Rather, when done right, asking your dominate for a alter should show a existent investment in your position—and in your futurity with the company.

Using Scientific discipline-Backed Methods to Ask for Annihilation

So, by now you've identified your fears and you might be thinking, "Yeah, so what?" If your fright is nevertheless looming large, you'll need an additional weapon to yield when asking.

That'due south correct, nosotros're bringing in science to assist you get what y'all want at piece of work.

Anchoring Effect

The anchoring effect is a cognitive bias that describes the human tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information offered to them—otherwise known every bit "the ballast." Once the anchor is presented, all judgments are made effectually the anchor.

The anchoring effect is usually used in automobile sales, where an initial sticker price is set and the two parties negotiate from there. Similarly, the anchoring result can be used in a salary negotiation.

Be thoughtful when offering your anchor.

In our own GIMME Script, we advise that you lot set your salary expectations higher than the number you'd be comfortable landing on, bold negotiations will happen between the initial ask and the agreed amount.

Use the Rule of Reciprocity

The rule of reciprocity depends on the assumption that humans are more than likely to return good deeds. In many social situations, we pay back what we receive from others.

When using the rule of reciprocity in a negotiation setting, you don't desire to nowadays by saying, "I'll give yous Ten if y'all requite me Z."

Rather, come to your negotiation with all the accomplishments you take already accomplished—as well as your plans for future projects and improvements.

For example, if you're looking for a flexible work situation, y'all might lead by detailing all of the distraction-free work and strategy yous tin achieve while working from home or a remote location.

If yous are looking for a title promotion, you may present the skills you lot take learned or optimized in the past yr—likewise equally how you plan on using them in your new role.

Opportunity Cost

In investment terms, an opportunity cost is a benefit an individual, investor, or business misses out on when choosing some other alternative.

While we all know you are much more than an investment to your boss (or at to the lowest degree you lot should exist!) it doesn't hurt to bring this bargaining tactic to the table.

Nosotros're not suggesting that you lot affix common cold, hard numbers to your presence at your company (you're ever worth more than a dollar corporeality). Rather, information technology's affixing your value both to appointment and going forward. Nowadays this to your boss when making a specific ask.

While collecting and analyzing your own KPIs, we bet y'all'll be surprised at only how valuable yous are—and that's great motivation and inspiration for how much more valuable you can be.

Let's Get to Asking

Without further ado, permit's enquire our bosses for what nosotros want (and what we deserve!).

We promise it'due south not going to exist equally scary as you lot think. Here are a few templates to get your asks into writing—or to use equally a guideline script to ask contiguous.

How to Inquire to Keep Working Remotely

As this article was originally published pre-pandemic, this wasn't a template we "needed"—notwithstanding.

If you're looking to go on your work remote or flexible, you should have a discussion with your boss. They should be receptive and listen to you. The entire workforce did incredible things to "brand it work" during the wild ride that was 2020-2022.

None of that should be forgotten. If you feel like you "found your groove" and that going back to work in person would destroy it, communicate that.

We know that everyone'south situation is vastly different, so here is a starting point.

Subject LINE: Request for Continuation of Remote Work [DATE]

Greetings [NAME],

I hope this email reaches y'all well. [PERSONAL Chestnut]

Equally [ORGANIZATION] ramps up to begin the transition back into the physical office, I would dear to discuss the possibility of my staying remote. As you know, my work has not suffered at all in the past [PERIOD OF Time].

In fact, since working remotely, I believe my work has been stronger than ever.

[EXAMPLE OF WORK SUCCESS]

[Example OF Work SUCCESS]

[EXAMPLE OF Work SUCCESS]

Without taking likewise much of your time, I'd like to discuss this further if you accept time to connect over the phone or via video chat. Let me know if this works for the team and if you need any additional information from me.

Best,

[Name]

How to Ask Your Dominate for a Enhance

If you're familiar with Career Contessa, you're probably familiar with our GIMME Script—which is our signature method for asking for a raise. It goes like this:

K:Give Groundwork Info
I: Innovate Why You lot're Awesome
G: Brand Your (Researched-Based) Instance
M: Make the Ask
E: End with a Bang

The best thing about the Gimme Script is that you can apply elements of it to most asks.

Whether yous're looking for an increased salary, a championship change, or more support, utilize the Gimme Script to build and explain your reasoning.

How to Tell Your Boss You're Leaving

If you're looking to tell your boss that your terminal days are rapidly budgeted, nosotros accept another article called "How to Tell Your Boss Annihilation." In this article, we unpack everything from resigning to disclosing sensitive data to a trustworthy and understanding dominate.

For a quick refresher on how to tell your boss about your departure without revealing too much, nosotros have a quick and piece of cake guide. Let'south brand this a smooth transition and proceed all professional relationships intact.

i. Request a Meeting

Pen an email to request a general meeting with your manager or supervisor.

2. Pen a Formal Letter of Resignation

Fix a resignation letter to hand to your boss after your meeting. Include relevant information like your concluding solar day (hopefully + two weeks out), any transition plan yous might accept, and a department to express gratitude.

Resignation Alphabetic character Templates

Your notice letter does not need to mention whatsoever information most your new task. Yous'll also want to avert sharing any negativity well-nigh the circumstances of your departure. Nosotros know, information technology's tempting to slam the door behind you lot in a rage fit, but try to leave on good terms.

3. Keep the Transition Smooth + Expect the Unexpected

To maintain a positive human relationship, have an open dialogue with your current employer. Exist open to an exit interview, where you tin can constructively share what worked for you—and what could exist improved within the system.

If asked, you can as well share whatsoever suggestions of coworkers to fill your position. If you're feeling actually generous, you tin can fifty-fifty share a letter of recommendation.

Finally, await the unexpected. Some employees prepare a transition period and ii-weeks' notice when they give their discover of resignation. Be prepared for your dominate to tell you that today will be your terminal day of piece of work. To that end, brand certain you clear your work computer and gather whatever personal belongings and records you demand to take with you lot.

Request for a promotion in title only might be a niggling less intimidating than asking for a monetary enhance. What is our deal with talking nearly coin, society?

However, before request for a promotion in title, make certain that your increase in responsibilities and duties doesn't likewise warrant a pay heighten.

If it does, then address this too.

SUBJECT LINE: Following Upward on Our Promotion Discussion

Greetings [Name],

Give thanks yous for taking the fourth dimension to come across with me on [DATE and Fourth dimension]. I know that your time is valuable, and I appreciate you carving out the space to hear me out.

As we discussed, I would similar to be considered for promotion to [JOB TITLE]. I believe that in my [TIME] here at [COMPANY] I have contributed an aplenty amount of accomplishments with extremely positive outcomes:

[EXAMPLE 1] + [POSITIVE OUTCOME]

[Case Ii] + [POSITIVE Outcome]

[EXAMPLE Iii] + [POSITIVE Issue]

I also believe I have proven that I am a valuable team thespian. Here is some feedback I have recently received from coworkers and clients.

[POSITIVE FEEDBACK]

In addition, I have great ideas that I believe I tin can implement going forward, including [EXAMPLE OF IDEA AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT].

I believe that my accomplishments, proven positive feedback, and thoughtful vision for my future here at [COMPANY] evidence that I am gear up for this promotion and the responsibility that comes forth with it.

I look forward to hearing dorsum from y'all. Thank you over again for your valuable time.

[SIGN OFF]

How to Ask Your Boss for a Day Off

Why should information technology be and so scary to ask for a day off? Alas, it can be! If you have a close human relationship with your dominate, y'all might ask for a mean solar day off in a face-to-face up conversation.

However, information technology never hurts to write a follow-upward email or inquire in writing. This likewise makes it easier for your boss to runway your PTO or vacation days.

If your company requires avant-garde notice for requests, brand certain to follow these guidelines. That might mean pre-planning your mean solar day off a few weeks in advance.

However, if there is a medical reason, family emergency, or another factor that requires you to make the asking later than suggested, only communicate that in written form.

When making a last-minute request for time off, supply your boss with a backup plan. If in that location is a coworker who can handle your workload for the 24-hour interval or if yous are going to frontload your work for that week, communicate these plans.

Past leaving equally little room as possible for questions, y'all will increase the chances that your PTO is approved.

Subject field LINE: Asking for PTO [DATE]

Greetings [Proper name],

I promise this electronic mail reaches you well. I would similar to request [DATE] off from work to attend [Outcome, DOCTOR'S Appointment, ETC.].

Allow me know if this works for the squad and if y'all need any boosted information from me.

All-time,

[Name]

How to Inquire Your Boss for a Meeting

Sometimes, yous'll want to salvage your specific ask for a face-to-face discussion.

To do then, you'll want to set up a meeting with your boss in the offset identify. Here's an email template to cleave out time to run into with your boss in order to have an in-person meeting.

You may also choose to utilize this e-mail to hint as to the subject matter of your meeting.

If it's about a salary increase or promotion, you might include a line similar, "I'd love to discuss my future at [Visitor]" or "I'd love to discuss some ideas I'd like to implement over the coming months, likewise every bit my futurity at [COMPANY]."

SUBJECT LINE:Time to Meet This Calendar week?

Greetings [NAME],

I hope this email reaches yous well. I was hoping to get some time in the coming days to hash out a few things with you. I checked on your public agenda and noticed that [Appointment and TIME] and [DATE and Fourth dimension] were open. I was hoping ane of those slots would work well for your schedule.

Thanks for your time, and I look forrard to speaking with you.

Best,

[NAME]

How to Ask Your Dominate to Work From Abode

Work flexibility is increasingly important to the modern workforce.

Whether you're looking to piece of work from home permanently, a few days a week, or for a certain period of time, it'south going to be crucial to exercise nearly of the legwork, to explain the benefits, and to develop systems that go along lines of advice open.

For these purposes, we created a template for the middle-of-the-road, asking for a piece of work-from-home day every Friday.

Discipline LINE:Request for WFH Fridays

Greetings [Proper noun],

I hope this email reaches yous well. I wanted to discuss with y'all the possibility of instituting Fridays as a WFH day for me going frontwards. As you may know, most of my Friday piece of work involves head's-downwardly writing and data analysis. For this reason, I retrieve my productivity would soar if I were afforded a solitary environs in which to complete this work.

Let me know if this works for the team and if you lot demand whatever additional information from me.

Best,

[Name]

How to Ask Your Boss for More Work

If you observe yourself nodding off at your desk by 2:00 every day, it might mean that you're uninspired and actually underworked. Nix makes a workday go by faster than...well, bodily work.

If you feel uninspired or like you're suffering from under-challenged burnout at work, consider asking your boss for more work and responsibleness.

This sort of initiative shows your dominate that y'all're not the type of employee looking to testify upwards, clock hours, and collect a paycheck.

Here'due south how to ask for more work. A footling advice here—don't make your dominate do the work. Exercise a little legwork to identify areas in which you would like to work.

Have yous noticed the marketing squad struggling with some data management? Maybe that's a place to assistance.

Also, be certain to keep your linguistic communication positive. Don't come to your boss from a identify of frustration and discontentment. Rather, frame your enquire in a positive light by highlighting all the work you'd be excited to do.

Subject field LINE: My Responsibilities at [Visitor]

Greetings [NAME],

I hope this e-mail reaches you well!

As you know, I am pretty settled into my part as [POSITION] and I enjoy my work immensely. Still, I do believe I have the time, talents, and energy to contribute even more to the squad.

I've taken some time to identify some needs and I'd love to add the following responsibilities to my current workload in order to round out my weekly duties:

[RESPONSIBILITY + WHAT IT ENTAILS]

[RESPONSIBILITY + WHAT It ENTAILS]

[RESPONSIBILITY + WHAT IT ENTAILS]

I'chiliad really excited nigh my future here at [COMPANY] and I am completely open to discussing these responsibilities—equally well as how they fit into my current role—with you, at your ain convenience.

Thank you for your time,

Best,

[Proper noun]

How to Ask Your Boss for Support

And sometimes, the terminal matter y'all need is more than piece of work. In fact, sometimes yous need less piece of work and more support in gild to avoid total workplace burnout.

There's a reason that burnout is recognized as a serious clinical diagnosis past the World Health Organization. It's because, for some workers, it'south very, very real—and it bleeds into their relationships, physical well-being, and mental well-beingness.

Here'due south how to ask your boss for more support in your role.

Discipline LINE: Discussion About My Office

Greetings [Proper noun],

I hope this email reaches you well. Before getting into it, I want to reiterate that I honey my job and I feel privileged to contribute equally a [POSITION] at [Company].

However, I am becoming concerned that my personal workload is condign a little daunting—and I wanted to run a few ideas for some support by you.

My current workload includes these responsibilities:

[Responsibleness + Time SPEND]

[RESPONSIBILITY + TIME SPEND]

[RESPONSIBILITY + Time SPEND]

Every bit you can see, with these responsibilities, forth with weekly incidentals, I am left with little to no time to [MANAGE CLIENTS, Motion FORWARD, COLLECT Data, ETC.]. I believe that, with the assistance of an banana or an additional [POSITION], I can move this section forward successfully.

I would honey the opportunity to speak with yous more than at length about my ideas and how I retrieve hiring some boosted support would greatly benefit myself and [Visitor] as a whole.

Cheers for your time.

Best,

[NAME]

How to Enquire for Learning Resource Reimbursement

Sometimes, there are perfect opportunities for you to upskill on your own time in club to improve your competencies at your current job (and your future positions, too!).

This email should impress and excite your boss. It shows that you're taking initiative to accelerate your skills as they pertain to your career and your time to come.

We even accept a few courses in mind for you to take ;)

Here'southward a template to ask your boss for resource-related reimbursements.

SUBJECT LINE: Learning Resources Reimbursement Possibility

Greetings [Proper name],

I hope this e-mail reaches you well.

As yous know, I've settled into my role equally [POSITION] and I savour my work immensely. Still, I do believe I accept the fourth dimension, talents, and energy to contribute even more to my team here at [Visitor].

I recently discovered a not bad[LEARNING RESOURCE] via [PROVIDER (east.one thousand., Career Contessa, Skillshare, Main Course)]—and I would dearest to enroll in guild to farther develop my [SKILLS].

I would love the opportunity to speak with you more at length about the [RESOURCE] and how I believe it would amend my overall skill set and allow me to contribute fifty-fifty more to my team.

Thanks for your time.

All-time,

[NAME]

How to Enquire Your Boss for a Four-Day Workweek

Yep, nosotros're talking about the four-day workweek.

You'll likely desire to go into this tough ask with evidence that your boss could be open to it. To learn more than about the four-day workweek and all of its benefits, bank check out our case for the 4-twenty-four hour period workweek.

Bailiwick LINE: Conversation Around Improved Work Setup

Greetings [NAME],

I hope this e-mail reaches you well.

Equally I'm certain you're aware, there is a lot of discussion around the benefits of the four-day workweek, especially when it comes to productivity and memory.

I wanted to open a discussion about our team moving to a four-day workweek on a trial basis.

I thought this article from The Atlantic might interest you—especially equally information technology includes case studies of a diverseness of industries trialing the four-day workweek with huge success.

I understand that this is a large conversation, but I accept some ideas on how we could track its bear upon and get overall buy-in from the team.

I'm happy to lead the effort on presenting and implementing a successful four-day workweek for our team.

All-time,

[Proper name]

How to Inquire Your Boss for a Functioning Evaluation

Non all workplaces are created equal. As such, non all organizations offer performance reviews, at to the lowest degree not on a scheduled basis.

If you want a performance appraisal in a work environment like this, you lot'll need to inquire. This is likewise a great manner to examination the waters for the possibility of a promotion or an increment in compensation downwards the line.

Earlier asking, make sure to put together a summary of your achievements, highlights, and your overall track record. Have thoughtful questions planned around recommendations for future success. Find out what insights your boss has in regards to your piece of work and then far and get ready to make an action plan to achieve more.

The best part is that a few months from at present, y'all can come up back and ask for a raise. At that time you can cite all of the recommendations your boss fabricated—and how yous went the extra mile to achieve them.

Subject field LINE: Performance Evaluation

Greetings [NAME],

I hope this electronic mail reaches you well. I love my job here at [Company] and I want to ensure that I am growing and performing in my role.

I understand that we take a lean squad doing a great bargain of work, which makes it hard to connect as often. Withal, I was hoping we could discover some fourth dimension over the next few weeks to schedule a performance review.

Specifically, I'd love to share with yous some of my highlights from my time here at [COMPANY] so far, as well equally some ideas I accept going forward.

I'd also love to revisit your expectations and derive whatever recommendations you accept so that I tin can keep to learn and grow.

I would beloved the opportunity to speak with you more at length. With respect to your busy schedule, I can make myself available whenever is convenient for you lot over the side by side few weeks.

Cheers for your fourth dimension.

All-time,

[Name]