I need to decide which topic to bring up with my boss first in my performance review meeting.?
I have two things on my mind- one is that I would like to start telecommuting one day a week. About half the people in the department do so for a variety of reasons- so I’m not ground-breaking here. However, I would also like to bring up what the potential is for me to be promoted soon- I have been here 2 yrs and feel as if I am deserving and due.
While I don’t believe telecommuting should impede the promotion in any way- I am aware that a working mom such as myself asking to telecommute might be looked upon as not being as career driven as someone not in that situation.
If I ask to telecommute first, I’m afraid that would be a point against me when I ask for the promotion. But if I ask for the promotion first, then will he feel ambushed since he has no real basis for denying the telecommuting request, but would rather not promote someone who wants to work from home one day a week?
Tags: things on my mind, working mom
March 8th, 2010 at 04:00
Having been a supervisor for more than 20 years, I can give you this advice.
It does not matter which topic you bring up first. What I would suggest is that you go in and talk about your strong points and how you are a "company person" this will help cement your desires to be promoted and telecommuting.
Let your supervisor tell you what your strong points are and if you have any weaknesses (which they should do anyway). When he or she addresses your strong points … you ask them, if they think you are ready for a promotion to a position that is open. They should tell you what they think and if you are or are not qualified. Don’t burn a bridge but at least you will know where you stand and also will have planted the seed that you are looking for advancement and are aware that a position is open.
Telecommuting / best thing to do is ask what the qualifications are and find out if you qualify. Ask your supervisor if he or she thinks your department would suffer if you decided to telecommute? Again you have planted the seed and it will grow.
During reviews, let your supervisor tell you what you can and cannot do. If you go in and ask to be promoted then you are putting additional pressure on your supervisor … but by planting the seed you will be in the back of their minds anytime a position opens.
Equate it like this:
"Boss, I want a raise, I have worked hard!" you say.
or
"Boss, have you heard if they will be giving out decent raises this year … boy, I need one bad with the kids and all." you say.
It’s unfortunately called POLITICS
March 8th, 2010 at 04:00
bring up the promotion topic first – if nothing on the horizon, then telecommuting question won’t look as bad – not sure about asking for telecom if you get promoted – are other in next position up from yours telecomming? Getting promoted may require you to be there 5 days a week-only you know if thats true or not. Depends on which one is more important to you.
March 8th, 2010 at 04:00
that’s a tough one. Make sure it’s on a good day and he’s not pressured and he’s in a good mood, and try to make sure there are no interruptions, choose a time that you know he will not be busy. For me that used to be 4PM and like on a Wednesday or Thursday depending on the workload. And I knew that if I sprung it on him he would not have time to prepare so I’d be able to say my piece without his having researched anything first.
Practice ahead of time what exactly what you want to say and how you want to say it. Whichever you choose to discuss first you’d need to be brief and succinct. Give good reasons why you want to promotion or telecommuting, give reasons why you deserve the raise, whether it be cost-of-living, or you’ve taken additional courses to generally improve your knowledge or have received a higher degree or you’ve taken specific courses to know your job better, or you’ve solved more customer’s problems or have reference letters from customers that give you praise, or you’ve taken more computer-type courses so you know where to research better now, or have taken more inter-office courses, or have done specific projects during the year and taken on more responsibility, etc. For the teleocmmuting change maybe you could find out why other people are working from home and then say the same reasons or add to the reasons (like do you have an ill child, a sick parent and need to take them to doctor appointments, need to be there for some project you’re doing for the military, etc. Whatever your reasons are, you need to go into his office with proof.
.