Selling your executive on supporting your professional development is a skill. It’s also known as the art of persuasion. While training, coaching, and consulting thousands of assistants nationwide, we have witnessed first-hand that the majority of assistants don’t approach getting approval for training and development as a process.
They view it as a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ situation.
“Yes, I’ll get to go” or “My manager will say no.”
Unfortunately, this is how most scenarios play out…
An assistant reads about a great seminar, workshop, or conference for administrative professionals.
The topics are of interest to them and will help improve job efficiencies and processes.
They walk into their manager’s office to request his or her approval only to hear “no.”
They walk out.
End of story.
Instead, an assistant needs to view this as “This is a great program. This will help me become a better assistant and a more valuable employee. How will I sell this to my executive?” You now have your subconscious working to develop ideas and language on how to get a “yes” from your executive.
We have heard many assistants say, “My executive will never approve this”, “There is never a right time. They are always busy” so they never present their case to their executive. It’s all in positioning your thinking and overcoming resistance. You have to really believe that you are worth investing in and that you and your executive will both win big with this investment.
How do you convince your executive?
You are selling yourself, your value, and your potential. What do you do when you sell something? You make a pitch. Before you head into your executive’s office, it is extremely important that you know the benefits that will be gained and prepare for the questions he or she will ask you.
Our comprehensive Getting Approval for Training and Development e-book can help you market yourself and the assistant training program you are interested in. The contents include:
Ready to attend the next assistant conference, workshop, or online course? Download our free assistant ebook on Getting Approval For Training And Development to get the “Yes” you are after.
Points to consider and the power of persuasion.
Choose what is next for you in your career.
We offer selections for assistants who want to excel and advance in the workplace.
