One of the biggest mistakes I see Internal Communication Professionals make is asking for a big investment before they’ve earned confidence in smaller ones.
Influence isn’t built by making one massive request. It’s built by collecting a series of “yeses.”
Think about it like climbing a staircase.
Step 1: Ask for less than $100
A webinar.
A networking event.
A book.
A virtual learning session.
The investment is small. Your responsibility is to come back and share what you learned and how you’ll apply it.
Step 2: Ask for $100 to $500
A professional membership.
Maybe it’s IABC, CIPR, IOIC, a local communication network or another professional community.
Don’t just join. Use it. Bring ideas back to your organization. Share best practices. Build connections that help solve business problems.
Step 3: Ask for $500+
A certification.
Specialized training.
A strategy course.
Invest in skills that make you a stronger advisor, not just a better communicator.
Step 4: Ask for up to $5,000
A conference.
A mastermind.
An immersive learning experience.
The goal isn’t just to attend. It’s to return with practical ideas, trends and recommendations that create value for the business.
Step 5: Ask for $5,000 to $10,000
Bring training to your team.
Develop your managers.
Invest in workshops that improve communication capability across the organization.
Now the investment is no longer just about you. It’s about multiplying capability.
Step 6: Ask for $10,000 to $50,000
Communication technology.
Email platforms.
An internal communication audit.
Research.
Measurement.
These investments improve how communication performs across the organization.
Step 7: Ask for $100,000+
Additional resources.
Specialist expertise.
Technology that improves efficiency.
Dedicated roles.
At this stage, you’re no longer asking for development, You’re building organizational capability.
Here’s the secret:
Every step earns the next one.
If you attend a webinar and nobody sees a difference, why would they fund a conference?
If you join a professional association but never apply what you’ve learned, why would they pay for certification?
If your certification never changes business outcomes, why would they invest in technology or additional resources?
Every “yes” is a promise. Your job is to demonstrate the return on that investment, tell the story of the impact and make the next decision feel obvious.
That’s how influence grows. Not through one giant request, But through a series of investments that consistently deliver value.
What was the first investment your organization made in your development, and where did it lead?
