When making the ask, understanding and navigating the landscape is critical, yet rarely is this prioritised.Some top tips below on how to put your best foot forward:

𝟭. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 - Know what tangible measures are being used to calibrate your performance.

𝟮. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 - what qualities differentiate you from other top performers? These are your ‘personal trademark’.

𝟯. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 - This is your business card; look the part, feel the part, and embrace the part!

𝟰. 𝗕𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 - Get direct access to them if possible; you have a better chance of being considered for opportunities when you are on their radar.

𝟱. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 - Take them on the journey with you; be as confident sharing your ambition as you are sharing your performance results.

𝟲. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘆-𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 - Meet with your leaders and sponsors regularly; give them everything they need to advocate for you at the right time.

𝟳. 𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸 - Reflect on your business results, feedback received, strengths and opportunity areas and/or ask a coach or trusted advisor who can help validate your thinking.

How do you ensure that your arguments are well-reasoned and compelling enough to make your case effectively?