We often find ourselves in situations where we require something from our supervisor - a raise or promotion, help on a project, additional insight on a problem or a little extra weight to throw around in a problem situation. Many people in management positions are incredibly helpful and are there to support their employees - unfortunately, many other people in management positions suffer from glorified entitlement issues and enjoy having authority and power to the point of becoming overwhelming.

Whether your boss is easygoing or overpowering, "buttering up" your boss prior to a request may be beneficial to both yourself and your supervisor. The following tips will help you to present yourself and your case in the most positive light, encouraging productivity and efficiency, as well as a great working relationship between you and your boss.

1. Work Hard Before You "Need" To. The following method is likely to backfire - spend most of your day surfing the web and chatting with your coworkers. The morning of the day you ask for a raise, show up early, get scads of work done, march into your supervisor's office and ask for a raise because of your good hard work. Try not to let the door hit you on the way out. Alternately, the following method is likely to succeed - Always maintain high levels of professionalism and work ethics in your day-to-day job. If you've been slacking off recently, speak to your boss (well in advance of your request) and explain that you know your performance has been lacking. Ask for constructive feedback and use this advice to become the best employee on your team. The morning of the day you ask for a raise, show up early, get scads of work done, march into your supervisor's office and ask for a raise because of your good hard work. Laugh all the way to the bank.

2. Make It Mutually Beneficial. The most effective way to have your request met is to make sure it works for everyone involved. Before you talk to your boss about something important, research how he or she will benefit from agreeing to your request. For example, if you are looking for a promotion, explain your current job duties and how you can better utilize your experience by adding a list of additional duties. Make sure to emphasize the benefit to your supervisor (i.e. less direct supervision, more productivity, taking away from his or her workload) and the company (more clients, better marketing, lower cost because of increased organization). While your

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