Have you ever wanted to try out something new at work but didn’t dare ask for an opportunity to do so? Were you worried about rejection or about sounding silly? Or perhaps, you didn’t want to make yourself feel vulnerable?
Imagine a scenario where a colleague of yours is about to go on maternity leave:
You’ve wanted to learn about her role for a while, and you know that your manager is looking for someone to help cover some of her tasks.
Would you ask your boss if you can help out with this or will you silently wait for them to pick someone?
Sure, it might feel daunting to go up to them and ask them to consider you.
But, what if you didn’t speak out? Without your input, would your boss know that you are interested in the extra responsibilities and that you are willing to make the time for them?
It is utterly important to communicate your aspirations to your manager: once they know what you want, they will be better suited to help you pave your way towards achieving your goals.
And, even if your boss were to say “no” to your request this time, it might make them consider you for such opportunities in the future.
So to sum up:
- Don’t be deterred by the possibility of rejection and don’t let fear dictate your choices! Just as there is a 50% chance of a “no”, you also have a 50% chance to get a YES!
- If you are sure you want something, state it, ASK FOR IT, let others know that you are interested and that you are committed to the cause!
And finally, a quote for the ocassion:
“In the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take.”
– Lewis Carroll
