Kumuthini Raman, a learning professional at KPMG specializing in leadership development, joins the discussion to unveil her insights on workplace requests. She shares her experience participating in a challenge that involved asking colleagues for resources, salary raises, and even deadline extensions. The conversation highlights how overcoming the fear of rejection can lead to personal growth and successful negotiations. The importance of communication styles, gender dynamics in responses, and balancing assertiveness with warmth also take center stage.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Collecting No's Challenge
Ask 10 different people for things they have the power to give you.
Track the responses (yes or no) and notice how each makes you feel.
insights INSIGHT
Yeses are More Common Than Expected
People get more "yeses" than they anticipate when asking for things.
This reveals they can advocate for themselves more than they previously thought.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Sherry's Unexpected Yeses
Sherry, a student leader mentor, asked to speak at events and for speakers at her conference.
She received so many yeses that she couldn't fulfill all the requests.
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In this book, behavioral scientist Alison Fragale provides powerful insights and practical advice on how women can overcome the tradeoff between likeability and competence in the workplace. She delves into the science behind gender bias and stereotypes, and offers evidence-based strategies to increase status, power, and influence. The book combines rigorous research with actionable advice and impactful stories from a diverse array of women, helping readers cultivate perceptions of warmth and assertiveness to achieve a fulfilling career path.
What’s on your work wish list? A conference or training? A higher performance rating or salary or job title? Feedback from someone you respect? A project you’d like to lead? Clearer communication from your boss? Or maybe an extension on a deadline?
These are the sorts of things that Amy Gallo and four listeners asked for (and mostly got) when they did Alison Fragale’s “nos challenge” from our episode “To Get What You Want, Be Both Assertive and Warm.” These were the rules: ask different colleagues for something they have the power to give you and that you’d value having. Keep track of the requests and responses until you’ve gotten 10 nos. Also keep track of the yeses and how each response made you feel.
In doing the challenge, they tested their assumptions about people’s willingness to meet their wants and needs. They also crossed off lots of items on their wish lists, learned to fear rejection less, and gained status. Now, your turn?
Women at Work 
