One of the smartest EAs I know pulls the same move every year.
She walks into her exec’s office with a list of five conferences or training events she’d love to attend.
He scans the list, eyes widening.
“Five? That’s a bit much. Maybe we can stretch to two.”
She nods, graciously.
Thanks him warmly.
And then skips out of his office like she’s just won the lottery.
Because she only ever wanted two in the first place. 😏
That’s not manipulation. That’s mastery.
She understands budget.
She understands psychology.
And she understands how to frame a conversation to get exactly what she needs.
It’s classic assistant brilliance:
✔️ Set the scene
✔️ Manage expectations
✔️ Get the outcome – without the pushback
So the next time you’re gearing up to ask for development, budget, or anything else, remember:
It’s not just what you ask for.
It’s how you ask.
And if you’re making your own training wish list… you know where to find us. 😉
