I often ask this to executives I am working with. What Do You Wish You Could Ask Your Boss Right Now? Too often we wait until the right time, the perfect time, or a later time, when in fact you should ask it right now, today. Because everything changes fast. Your boss gets promoted, your company gets acquired, or people who have the power to control your future have the wrong narrative about who you are, what you are doing, and how they can best help you.
In the last thirty days alone here is a small selection of the questions my clients have asked their boss and the results gained from asking the question in your head:
Question:
"I am used to working in a much more empowered place. I need to hire who I want when I want with the financial freedom to make investment decisions appropriate to my business responsibilities. I am ready to take on more. When can that happen?"
Results:
The following week my client had her responsibilities doubled right before top leadership changes. Had she not had this conversation when she did, she would have had to wait at least a further six months before any possibility of consideration for a promotion.
Question:
"I love this company but the head hunters are calling and I'm beginning to understand my strong external worth. I'd love you to consider evaluating how I am compensated relative to the business results I am achieving."
Results:
Everyone has a Personal Stock Valuation, in fact you have two, an IPSV and an EPSV, or an Internal Personal Valuation and an External Personal Stock Valuation. Just like companies these two valuations fluctuate. When this executive's company declined to address his compensation concerns it helped him realize that his External Personal Stock Valuation was significantly higher than his Internal Personal Stock Valuation and can now make decisions about what is next in his career.
Question:
"I'm noticing ideas for us to hit our growth goals fall between various functional teams. What we need is to pull together a cross section of creative, technical, and business brains to explore innovation possibilities. Can I lead making that happen?"
Results:
My client is now leading an Innovation Trifecta Accelerator Program with my help to unlock possibilities across their global divisions and functions. Without asking, those ideas would just be sitting in the depths of people's brains or endless ignored todo lists.
Your boss cannot answer the question in your head, say it out loud and find out what is possible or if you hear a truth you don't want to hear --at least you can focus on your next possibilities.
Need help on just how to ask that question? For the first five readers to respond, I'll give you "Words That Just Work" for any challenge you are facing. Private message me here or on any of my social channels.
Dedicated to growing your business,
Val
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