In salary raise negotiations, who doesn’t want to make more money at work or get a better salary?
Learn how to be more confident, ask for a raise, and hopefully – get a raise! You deserve it!
No matter how much you make (or don’t make), it’s very likely that most everyone with a little ambition would say they would love to have a bigger paycheck.
Yet, salary raise negotiations – asking for a raise or to get a better salary – aren’t easy and not something most people relish.
Even if you know you are worth more, and even if you are super confident (and especially if you need to work on how to be more confident) in general, it can be hard to have a discussion about a raise and why you deserve one with your employer.
Here are 5 things you should never do when asking for a raise from your current boss in salary raise negotiations, so you can be successful and make more money – the money you know you deserve!
Get a better salary now!
You should never discuss personal reasons for wanting a raise or making more money
Your boss doesn’t care if you don’t make enough to cover your bills, have emergency expenses, or if little Johnny’s daycare costs just went up. None of those things are his or her problem and really have nothing to do with how much you are or aren’t paid. Your desire for a raise should only be based on merit and performance and never on what you plan – or even need – to do with the money.
You should never request to make more money jokingly, informally, or in front of others
What you make on the job should always be private – only between you and your employer and boss(es). It should never be discussed in front of any other people and likewise, you should never even mention your desire to get a raise or make more money in front of other people. Similarly, a request to get a raise should not ever be done in a joking manner or informally—off the cuff. Any time you discuss how to get more money with your boss or bosses, you should treat the process of the request with the same respect you feel you deserve.
You should never go into salary negotiations not knowing your – or your position’s – worth
Be sure to do your research before you ask to get a raise or to make more money, in terms of what others in your position make in businesses similar in size and function to yours. What is the range for the position in your area? Does education or years of experience make a difference? How does your current salary compare with the average? This is not to say you should compare yourself and/or your salary with others in your firm or company that do not have your same responsibilities and expectations, but knowing what the norm is for others in your same industry can tell you both where you are and where you should be. This will not only help you to be more confident, it will make your side of the negotiation stronger!
You should never not prepare concrete reasons and examples to support your request to make more money at work
It’s not enough to just think you deserve to make more money at work—even if you do make less than others in your profession with similar experience or expertise. And it’s not enough to tell your boss what you will do if given a pay increase. You need to be able to demonstrate how you have helped improve the company – either in terms of leads, sales, revenue, savings, etc. – while in your current position. In other words, what have you accomplished to help better the position of the company, through the performance of your specific duties? Knowing this also helps you to be more confident and becomes the basis of your justification for an increase in pay or making more money.
You should never take “no” as a failure
There can be many reasons your boss or bosses may turn down your request to make more money at work—this time. The money may not be available at this particular time, you may not have done a good job of selling your request, or – unfortunately – your employer may feel like you just don’t deserve it right now. But you surely won’t know the reason if you don’t ask. This is a part of learning how to be more confident. Just realize, your boss may not tell you. However, as long as done in proper form, it’s not inappropriate to ask why the answer was, “No.”
The bottom line is the more you prepare for your request – your salary negotiation to get a raise or make more money at work – the higher the likelihood of success. Regardless of the outcome, even if you weren’t successful this time, you will at least walk away with the knowledge that you could be more confident than before and that you could do it… you could prepare diligently and then have the courage and strength to have this somewhat difficult conversation with your employer(s). And that you could make your request in focused, deliberate, and confident manner that reflects appropriately the consummate professional you know yourself to be.
Susan Sly is a best selling author, speaker and entrepreneur. She has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television and the CBN. Susan is the mother of five children and resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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