Get the response you are looking for:

Be Assertive
There’s something about combining confidence with control that gets attention. People really respond
positively to it. You’re probably going to be nervous asking, but that’s normal. Relax as best as you can
and be confident. If you ask in an assertive, polite way, you’re more likely to get what you want.

Know what you want
The more specific a request you make, the easier it will be for both you and the person you’re asking. If
you appear indecisive and unsure in what you want, your request will come off as weak. Part of success in
asking for what you want is showing the person how much you really want it. Show this by being specific
in what you want. Plus, being specific is just polite to the person you’re asking in case they have to
work around your request.

Be Flexible
Being specific in what you want is important, but so is being flexible. When I asked for my time off to
travel, I had to accept the different position when I came back. If I had been rigid in my demands, I
wouldn’t have succeeded. It wasn’t ideal for me, but it was acceptable in order to get what I wanted. If
you’re prepared to compromise, you’ll succeed too.

Be prepared for a “no”
Asking for what you want isn’t a silver bullet for success. Oftentimes, you’ll receive a “no” and you
have to be prepared for that. Years after my travels through Southeast Asia, I thought I would ask for
similar time off from a new employer. I asked for a month off to travel and got a “no”.

However, they did spend several days in consideration so I think it was pretty close to being accepted. I had to settle for a regular two week trip instead. I didn’t get what I wanted, but nothing bad happened to me by asking.

People want to help you
Before you ask for what you want, realize that people want to help you. It is rare for someone to respond
negatively to a well-thought out polite request. Most people get a good feeling by helping another person
out. Plus, they’ll probably remember a time when they were in a similar position. If you keep this in
mind, you’ll be more confident. And that will get you one step closer to getting that “yes”.
Remember, if you don't ask you won't receive.