Feeling frustrated at work? Sometimes it?s best to look at your old job in a new light. You could be at the right place for your career, but toiling in the wrong department.
So before you consider handing in your notice, take time to figure out what work you want to be doing and whether it?s possible to do it at your current employer. Where do you see yourself making an impact? How could your current skills translate to a new role? Then, it?s time for the real challenge: explaining to your boss why and how putting you in a new role would positively impact the company.
Below, 12 startup founders from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) provide scenarios in which they would accept a new position proposal from the right employee.
1. Prove Its Value
I am completely open to employees creating their own positions, but there has to be proven value for the company. If an employee approaches me with a plan?how the role will positively affect the company and help us grow, and even which areas he or she thinks need improvement?the inquiry will be considered. If he or she hasn?t prepared proof of the new role?s benefit, I won?t be convinced. -Miles Jennings, Recruiter.com
2. Don?t Quit Your Day Job
Don?t try to suddenly stop with your current role and start your new desired role. Do them both, and do them both well. If you abandon your job to focus on the new tasks, your boss will only see your neglect and nothing else. Work overtime and take the risk away from your boss. As soon as you show more value in the new role than the other, your boss will divert resources to encourage this value-add. -Anthony Johnson, American Injury Attorney Group
3. Demonstrate That There?s a Solid Return on Investment
Your boss is most likely focused on making a return on investment. Figure out what the position will entail and what the investment is on your boss? part (he or she is most likely paying you for your time). If your desired position has good return on that investment for the business, your boss will be happy to make it happen. If not, figure out how you can make your efforts have good ROI. -Anthony Scherba, Yeti
4. Introduce a Low-Risk, High-Reward Idea
I?m a sucker for a good idea that requires little investment, especially if the potential upside outweighs the potential downside. It?s important to give employees space to explore new ideas. If you?re constantly shutting them down, they?ll lose passion and give up trying to contribute. I want to be a multiplier who inspires, rather than being a diminisher who squashes exploration. -Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now
5. Clearly Articulate the Value
The best thing an employee can do is to clearly articulate the value, both to the organization and to the employee. Both aspects are equally important to me, and yet employees often only address the value to the organization. When employees communicate the value they will get, that shows me their true passion?a big factor in winning me over! -Mina Chang, Linking the World
