Waiting for the "perfect time" to switch teams? That moment rarely arrives.
๐๐๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ.
Whether it's exploring new tech, getting closer to customers, or joining a team with better growth opportunities.
When you see work that excites you, don't just admire from afar. Connect it to your development goals and speak to the business value.
๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ๐: "I've been looking at [team name]'s work on [specific project/challenge] and think my experience in [specific areas] could help them with [specific business need or goal]. This move would also align with my career development goals in [specific ways]. Can we explore what a transition might look like?"
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐:
โ Leads with business value and team needs
โ Shows you understand their challenges
โ Positions your skills as the solution
โ Demonstrates strategic thinking about company priorities
โ Opens dialogue instead of making demands
๐ช๐ต๐ผ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐๐ธ: Your direct manager first. They'll know internal processes and can guide you through proper channels.
๐๐ณ ๐ถ๐'๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐: Discuss timing, transition plans, and how you'll wrap up current work. Be professional about the handoff.
๐๐ณ ๐ถ๐'๐ ๐ฎ ๐ป๐ผ: Ask about collaboration opportunities, cross-team projects, or what skills you'd need to develop first.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐ฝ: Build relationships with that team ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ making the ask. Understanding their priorities makes your pitch stronger. ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐ถ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ.
Making the move request is leadership in action - you're taking ownership of your career path.
๐ Liked this post? Follow me on LinkedIn or here on Substack for the remaining posts in this series and more!
โ Want to get even better at asking? I still have a limited number of seats left in the July 25 cohort of my course. Last cohort of this year! https://maven.com/chaitali-narla/outstanding-tech-career