Lifescripts, 3rd Edition

9Asking Your Supervisor for More Responsibilities

STRATEGY

Approach this meeting like a job interview. Being eager is one thing but being prepared is another. Work extra hard the weeks before this meeting. Demonstrate you can easily handle your current assignments. Recognize that asking for additional responsibilities will trigger a discussion of your employment history. Your boss will refer to every failure, no matter how insignificant. Be ready to respond with information about all your successes too, and to answer questions about past assignments. Still, try not to dwell on small episodes. Instead, make your boss focus on the big picture. Overall, you've done a good job and deserve more responsibility. Explain that you're happy with your job but discouraged by a lack of challenges. Tell your boss that expanding your role at the office will save the company time and money. Present specific ideas for expanding your responsibilities. Refer to ongoing projects and display your knowledge of company policies and procedures. You have to prove your familiarity with the company and be interested in the work. If she denies your request initially, don't panic. Calmly defend your work record and, if necessary, compromise. You can suggest working as an assistant on a new project. This will expand your work portfolio and satisfy your boss as you ease into more responsibilities. Another tactic is offering to take work on a trial basis. Suggest a month of new responsibilities after which ...