Scott · Your next move
Dale Carnegie liked strawberries and cream. When he went fishing in Maine, he brought worms. As he tells it in How to Win Friends and Influence People, he chose the bait based on what the fish would go for, not what he liked. His favorite dessert never made it onto the hook.
“I often went fishing up in Maine during the summer. Personally, I am very fond of strawberries and cream, but I have found that for some strange reason, fish prefer worms. So when I went fishing, I didn’t think about what I wanted. I thought about what they wanted. I didn’t bait the hook with strawberries and cream. Rather, I dangled a worm or grasshopper in front of the fish and said: “Wouldn’t you like to have that?” Why not use the same common sense when fishing for people?”
Say you want a shot at the desk. You tell your manager you’ve been selling cars for six years, you’re ready for more, and you’d like a chance to prove it. All fair. Now think about what your manager needs. Maybe she’s got two new hires who can set an appointment but don’t know what to do when the customer walks in. She’d probably welcome some help with that.
Ask her where one of the new hires could use a hand. If she points to appointment prep, offer to work through the next three with them. Let the new hire take the lead on the third one. Then tell your manager what they can do on their own and where they still need help.
You can tell your manager you want to move up. Give her a chance to see what having you in that role would do for the team, too.
Inspired by Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.
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