Need More Help at Work? Be Smart About How You Ask

The first time I tried to get approval for an incremental FTE (Full Time Equivalent) in my department, I was taught a tough lesson by my boss, a Senior VP. I based my pitch on the volume of work and the inability of my department to keep up with it. My request was turned down, and I was beside myself. In a bit of a panic, I told my boss that the workload had increased to the point where I was working nights and weekends to pick up the slack. He looked at me and said, “Well, then you’ve been doing yourself a disservice.” I was overcome with frustration. He further explained that if I was killing myself to keep up, and WAS keeping up, then why would anyone think I needed additional manpower? I had to make more noise about not being able to get things done – instead of quietly finding a way to do them with the resources I had. End of story.

In today’s environment, the biggest problem with getting a new position approved is that it adds corporate expense, or overhead. So the best approach is one or both of the following:

1. Find a way to fund the position that doesn’t take money out of one hand to put it into another.
2. Show that addition of the position will avoid corporate expense net/net – either by eliminating another corporate expense or by generating additional revenue attributable to your department.

Do not use the approach that, “If we don’t do X we can’t get Y accomplished”. That, on its own, will probably not be successful. But do present a situation (the gap), and clearly and dispassionately define the impact of not addressing the gap.

Keep in mind that your company might rather hire consultants/contractors to do work (normally temporary – project by project) than to add a position to the payroll (a forever thing). Which pocket the expense comes out of is a big deal from a budgeting/accounting perspective.

Also think in terms of proposing alternatives. Your company may choose to (1) Create a new permanent position, (2) Hire a consultant/contractor to be internally managed within the team, (3) Outsource the work that needs to be done, or (4) Redistribute some responsibilities to another department.

Be realistic, objective, and creative and get your ducks in a row for your pitch. Good luck.