HBR Women at Work Series Collection (3 Books)

12

Having the Here’s-What-I-Want Conversation with Your Boss

by Rebecca Shambaugh

One person stands between you and your next raise or promotion: your boss. While others on the leadership team—and even your peers—may exert some influence on your career, it’s your direct supervisor who can pull the strings to either grant or deny your advancement. But to get what you want, you have to ask for it.

I once spoke at a conference in New York, where a female executive pulled me aside to ask my advice on this topic. She explained that while she was on the verge of being promoted to the C-suite, her family situation with three children had many demands. She was feeling conflicted about whether or not she could take on higher-level responsibilities while ...