Do you consider yourself a hard-worker? A high-achiever who is worthy of a pay rise at work? Well if you do, you need to be prepared to ask for one instead of just waiting for it to be handed to you.
But asking your boss for a raise can be a delicate – and nerve-wracking — process, and you need to approach it with the right attitude otherwise you may find yourself with bigger issues than no raise.
- Create a plan
When it comes to negotiating for a raise, you don’t want to go into the negotiation unprepared.
You need to create a plan on how to approach your boss and another one for what you’ll say once you have, because if you stumble or pause in your negotiation it will make you look sloppy, unprepared — and perhaps undeserving.
- Don’t put it off
Once you’ve decided you are worthy of a raise, don’t waste too much time before sharing this with your boss.
If you put off asking for a raise, you may find your self-confidence dwindling as you second-guess yourself — and if that happens, how can you ask your boss to believe in you if you don’t yourself?
That’s why there is no time like the present, so if you feel like you are deserving of a raise, seize the moment and ask for one.
- Be willing to learn and improve
Just because you feel you should have a raise, and your boss may even agree with you, it doesn’t mean you do your job perfectly.
There is always room for improvement, and you should let your boss know giving you a raise means you’re willing to take on more responsibility and learn even more about the business. And you can demonstrate this proactively by starting to upskill even before you ask for a raise – it’s a great negotiation tactic to be able to show you are already focusing on improvement.
- Be honest and direct
Don’t be afraid to be straightforward during your negotiation with your boss. In fact they ‘d probably appreciate a direct approach as opposed to one that beats around the bush and wastes time. This doesn’t mean be impolite, but be firm and friendly at the same time.
- Approach your boss with respect
One of the most important things to remember when approaching your boss regarding a raise is to treat them with the upmost respect.
You need to show them you value their opinion, hold them in high regard and that you mean no disrespect towards them in asking for a raise, you just believe you’re worthy of one. In fact, you can express that your respect for them shows in your willingness to keep growing and improving, so you can deliver even better results for them. Remember: if your work makes them look good, it makes you look good.
- Don’t be discouraged
If your boss doesn’t seem sold on the idea of giving you a raise at first, don’t be discouraged and think the worst.
If you just explain why you are deserving of one, and give them some time to think it over you might find they are more than willing to give you a salary worth your hard work.
- Plan for every outcome
That being said, while you should always hope for the best, you should still be prepared for your boss refusing you a raise.
If this does in fact happen, ask them to revisit the discussion with at a future time – and then set a time, say three months, that seems fair to you.
Then[tweet_quote hashtags=”#work” ] be prepared to work twice as a hard as before to prove your boss wrong[/tweet_quote]. And come back at the agreed time with even more proof as to why you are deserving of a raise — and make it impossible for them to say no twice.
- Be willing to negotiate
While you may make a strong case to your boss for a raise you should still be willing to negotiate.
If they offer you a small raise but more benefits, don’t let your pride get in the way and only think of the money. Instead, think about how this offer can help you, and seriously consider whether you’d prefer a small raise, with added benefits, as opposed to just a raise.
In tough economic times, some bosses are hard-pressed to move on raising pay, but are open to more flexible working hours and arrangements – things that can put valuable time back in your life.
- Benchmark your salary
[tweet_quote hashtags=”#negotiation” ]When negotiating with your boss[/tweet_quote], you should research what the salaries of those with similar careers to yours are.
This way you can make a case for your raise with some evidence of others with the same career. If you have good contacts at your level in the same industry, benchmark with them. Otherwise, do an audit of the salaries noted in ads for similar positions.
- Outline your accomplishments
When explaining why you deserve a raise, it is vital you highlight all of your achievements to your boss. Be sure to discuss everything you’ve done in your time with the company to help it improve and make it impossible for them to deny you a raise. Note these in dot points and take them with you. Follow up with an email thanking your boss for spending time in the discussion, and – if a decision was deferred – add the dot points for accomplishments and also the development and skills program you are embarked upon.
- Don’t be the first to name a number
This final tip for the negotiating process for a raise is vital, and it’s to not be the first to name a number. This is because when it finally comes to actually discussing the value of your raise, you may be pressured into giving one you aren’t happy with.
Instead, try and give a range to your boss where you’d still be happy if they offered you even the lowest amount from it.
After reading these tips you should be confident in asking your boss for a raise, and if you’ve got enough evidence proving you’re deserving of one, it is entirely possible you’ll come out of the negotiations with a salary more representative of your work – and your worth.
