Parshat Matot-Masei
Parshat Matot-Masei: How to Ask for the Thing
Have you ever wanted to pitch a non-traditional idea to your boss? Something like working from a different city for a month, switching to a completely different project, or changing how your team handles a daily task? Only to have the boss instantly pull the emergency brake? When you ask to do things differently, your manager’s biggest fear usually isn’t the idea itself. It's that you're just looking for an easy way out or that the work won’t get done. This week, we look at a double Torah portion to break down how to pitch a big shift to your team, and how to get your boss to say yes.
Parsha in a Nutshell
This week we read the final double portion of the Book of Numbers, Matot-Masei (Numbers 30:2-36:13). It starts with rules about keeping your word and backing up what you say. Then, the story hits a massive roadblock: the tribes of Reuben and Gad look at some great grazing land outside the Promised Land and ask Moses if they can just settle there permanently instead of crossing the river with everyone else (Numbers 32:1).
Moses instantly panics. He accuses them of trying to dodge the upcoming war and ruining team morale. But the two tribes counter with a big promise: they say they will leave their families behind, march at the very front of the army, and fight the hardest battles until the job is done before coming back to their land. Moses agrees to the deal. The portion closes with Masei, which looks back and lists all 42 stops the Israelites made during their decades in the desert.
Diving Deeper
When you want to ask for a non-traditional setup early in your career, your manager’s brain instantly jumps to the worst-case scenario: this is going to complicate or hurt the project.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad give us the ultimate blueprint for how to handle this. They didn't get defensive or argue. They realized exactly why Moses was stressed (he thought they were abandoning the team) and they removed that fear.
If you want the freedom to work your own way or try a different approach, you can't just ask for the perk. You have to prove that your output won't drop. You show up, you communicate clearly, and you make sure your work is completely undeniable. Once your boss realizes that your weird idea won't hurt the final results, they will gladly let you write your own playbook.
Weekly Leadership Challenge
Show Up Double: If you already have a flexible setup (like working from home or picking your own hours), make sure you aren't accidentally giving off "ghosting" energy. Over-communicate what you're working on this week so no one ever has to guess.
Solve Their Problem, Not Yours: The next time you pitch a new idea or a change to your manager, don't just focus on why it’s great for you. Explain exactly how your approach helps the team finish the project faster or better.
