I was recently reflecting on the developmental opportunities I enjoyed in my last corporate role before starting my business.  I calculated that, on average, my company spent $10,000 per year on external training and development programs, and there were a few years they spent as much as $25,000 on me!

In fact, every organization I worked for, including my first job in a government role, willingly invested in my development.

How did I get them to invest in me?

I ASKED!

You might be thinking, “But Amy, you don’t understand, my company doesn’t have the budget for this.”

Neither did my employers.

And now, you’re probably thinking, “No, really, Amy, they’ll never approve the budget for my development, and asking will just make them mad.”

Yeah, that’s what I thought too.

So, how did I overcome my fear to negotiate for my professional development AND influence the decision-makers to say yes – EVERY TIME I ASKED?

Here’s my secret formula – well, I guess it’s not so secret now since I’m sharing it with you!

Step 1: Shift Your Mindset

Stop thinking about this as a budgetary expense. It’s an INVESTMENT. You and your employer will get a RETURN on that investment that will continue to pay dividends throughout your tenure with the company.

Step 2: Choose Your Investment Wisely

As you explore coaching, training programs, conferences, professional certifications, or other development activities, think about how they align with your company’s needs. Ask yourself how this investment might support an organizational goal, help overcome a current challenge, stimulate innovation or benefit your employer in another way.

Step 3: Build a Business Case

Develop your talk track for the conversation with your manager.  I like to create a “benefits bullet list” to keep in front of me during the conversation. Creating this list of benefits boosted my confidence, and by the time I finished writing it, I thought, “How could they say no to this?”

To help get you started, here are some ideas for your list:

• Goal Alignment: I’ve been thinking about this organizational or individual goal, and this program will help us achieve the goal.
• Solution: I’ve been thinking about this problem we’re experiencing, and this program will help us figure out a solution.
• Innovation: We need some fresh ideas, and this conference will allow me to learn about and evaluate new trends in our industry to help us get ahead of the curve.
• Teach Backs: You’re not only investing in me; this is an investment in the team. I will share my knowledge and experiences with the team, so they benefit too. (Pro Tip: Set a date and time after the event which you commit to delivering training to the team).
• Evaluation: This program would be a great addition to our professional / leadership / technical development activities. I’ll attend it to learn from it and provide an evaluation to help us decide whether we should send others to it in the future.
• Networking: In addition to the education, I’ll also have the opportunity to meet people….
  • To recruit to join our company
  • To build relationships with potential customers or suppliers
  • To benchmark their companies and share ideas with
  • To tap into after the event for expert advice

Step 4: Ask

Schedule some time to meet with your boss.  And think about the timing. The end of a fiscal year is a great time to ask for an investment since many companies have a “use it or lose it” budgeting process. Approach the conversation with confidence and enthusiasm. Emotions are contagious, and if you project confidence and enthusiasm, your boss will pick up on those emotions, making it easier to say “yes.”

Step 5: Deliver the Return on Investment

This magical step sets you up for ongoing investments in your development. Deliver on your promises to apply what you learned, teach others, and achieve results for the company. And talk about it with your boss. Every time you apply something you learned, thank your boss for the investment and share stories that help your boss realize that you are someone worth investing in, over and over again!

Do you need help?

I’m particularly passionate about advocating for continuous professional development. So, if you’re still thinking you could never ask your employer to invest in you, let me help.  Schedule a complimentary consultation, and let’s work on your strategy together.

https://calendly.com/asalapski/complementary-consultation

Wishing you the best!