Ask for what you want

Throughout the course of your career you will encounter decision points that require you to be clear about what you want. Whether it is a specific career move, client negotiation, or a work perk, always be prepared to communicate precisely what you want. 

Business is transactional. You were hired to fulfill a purpose that will ultimately make the business more successful. The reward for your contributions are opportunities to learn new skills, raises, promotions, etc. Often we blur the transactional nature of business with our emotionally charged reactions to those transactions. The truth is you will never be paid enough money if that is your only focus. Get clear about what it is that you want out of your career and what you want in exchange for those experiences. Read that again.

This process takes a combination of time and exploration. Each of us will have a unique career experience but there's opportunity to support one another and learn from each other along the way. Whether personal exploration through reading, practice, or other means, the goal is to have a variety of experiences throughout your career. Creating a network of people that are willing to share their career experiences is also valuable. Keep in mind that everyone in your network does not have to be on the same career quest and this exchange can be just as, if not more impactful. The exchange itself is an act of expansion for your mind.

Here are a few ways to know what you want and be prepared to ask for it.

Know what you don't want. These learnings can be game changing. We have all been told to create a pros and cons list at some point on our journey. Pay close attention to what is on the cons list, often there are common themes. Those commonalities are exactly the things that you don't want. No matter the reason, these items hold no value in your eyes. Be sure that you don't give them value in the course of a negotiation in an effort to simply get a win. It's not a win if it's not of value to you. You will get sharper at identifying the items you don't want as time passes, but it's as important to know for yourself what you do not want so that you're clear on knowing what you do want.

Know what makes you tick. These are the things that are unique to you and your experience. What makes you tick or brings you joy can be big or small. What is most important is its importance to you. Thinking in terms of your career, some of these asks may need to be translated into office or client value. Instead of fresh flowers, maybe it's the monetary value of those flowers that would be more impactful for you. How often do you like fresh flowers and at what frequency? Doing the math will give you the value of those flowers. The point is to not waste valuable time asking for something that does not align with typical negotiation circumstances. Identify the equivalent, so that you can easily incorporate what makes tick into your ask.

Know what you need to learn. Whether knowledge, skills, or access, we all are a work in progress. Investing the time and energy in your professional development will always be a worthwhile investment. Keep a list of the conferences, experiences, or courses that you want to experience next. Ask for paid admission and time to engage in those activities as a part of your negotiation. If you're a freelancer or entrepreneur, bake the cost of these developmental opportunities into your rate. Don't forget to include the cost of travel and time away.

Having a plan is strategic. It will bolster your confidence and ability to clearly define what you want you. Being prepared with your asks will also make the negotiation process much quicker. Bonus, it will be clear to the negotiator on the other side of the table that you know what you want and people that can make a decision are much more successful in their work.

*Written in 2020, so probably somewhere in my home.