Mari Carmen is the founder of Whole Leadership Systems, a coach, speaker and Chief Human Resources Officer at Avet Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Unless it is part of your contract, your company does not owe you financial or time support for your professional development. That said, there is a good chance they want to support you. Why? Because when you show up more prepared to face your responsibilities and challenges, you end up being more effective and everyone can benefit.
Here's how to ask your manager to support your professional development:
1. Define it. What kind of training do you need or want? What will make you a happier employee? Your happiness cannot be the primary driver for this training, but it must be a factor.
2. Refine it. How would this training benefit your organization? Is it helping you to develop soft skills or hard skills? Are there immediate business needs that require an expertise that you do not have?
3. Find it. Where and when are these trainings happening? Are they online or in person? Which format would be most effective and beneficial for you? Two days away from the office can do wonders for your sanity. However, if airports or crowds give you anxiety, a virtual option may be the way to go. Do a search on Google or LinkedIn, and ask for recommendations from leaders around your office.
4. Apply. Yes, before you ask for company support, check to see if there is an application requirement. You are more likely to get the yes from your boss if you can show that you’ve taken this seriously enough to apply (and that you’ve been accepted!).
5. Make a 15-minute appointment. These asks will be better received when your boss is expecting you; not when you take them aside in the hallway or at lunch.
6. Make it easy. Go to your boss with a clear and succinct ask, and include all the details both verbally and via email. Make it super easy for them to understand what you want, why you want it and how they can help.
7. Wait. Give them time to process the information. Rushing them may turn their slow yes into a quick no.
8. Follow up. That said, be clear on your deadlines. If you need to commit by a certain date, make sure to give your boss at least two weeks to make up her mind.
9. Don’t forget to say thank you. Thank your boss for believing in you enough to invest in you. A show of gratitude goes a long way.
Here's a sample script for when you're ready to approach your boss:
"Hi Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to talk with me. There is a mid-level manager’s training in New York that is focusing on negotiation tactics that I would like to attend. I’ve already applied and been accepted, and I am asking you to consider sponsoring me. The investment is $2,500 for the two-day event, plus room and travel. Attending this training will benefit my department in X ways. Let me know what you think. I need to respond within the next two weeks. Can we have a follow-up on Monday?"
What if they say, we don’t have the money for this kind of expense?
Don’t give up so easily. This is a great exercise to show your company that you are committed to your professional growth and that you understand how your growth will benefit the company. Explore opportunities to add this to the next budget cycle and start planning ahead.
What if the no is a final no?
This is when it’s time for you to make a decision. Is your own professional development worth it to you? Every time I invest in myself, it comes back to me. Every. Single. Time. Committing to these developmental opportunities, especially when your company does not offer you financial support, shows how serious you are about reaching your own personal best. In my experience, building this kind of reputation will benefit you over the long term. It increases your courage and makes you feel more self-empowered, so I encourage you to take your career trajectory into your own hands. The time is now.
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