Sincerely Sara: How do I ask for a Raise?

Myers Media Business Network is proud to include Women in Media Mentoring Initiative WIMMInet as one of our member companies Join the WIMMI conversation on LinkedInDear Sara I39ve been at my current job for over a year now I work hard meet all my deadlines and do not have any problems with coworkers Rarely have management or my clients been unsatisfied with my work My boss consistently adds higher profile accounts to my workload as my track record continues to build I am reliable and selfmanaging for the most part But since I quietly do my work and am too busy to socialize much with others in the office the quotbiggerquot personalities drown me out in getting recognition from higher ups My annual review is coming and since my workload has increased I feel a raise or promotion is due I came in at a starting salary but the work I do now is above my current pay grade The problem is I39m not comfortable negotiating on my own behalf and I tried to practice but I know I will feel awkward in front of my boss and blow it or decide not to ask at all because I feel so uncomfortable How do I ask for what I feel I deserve Thanks Needs a Push up the Ladder Dear Needs a PushFor those of us with less extroverted personalities less than average dose of confidence or who have been brought up to believe humility is a virtue and selfpromotion is tacky or improper it can feel unnatural to negotiate on our own behalf But if you don39t champion your own cause then who will Certainly not those coworkers competing for the same promotion you want Maybe your boss or a coworker that you have built an alliance with will rally for your cause but if by your own admission you are too busy chasing deadlines to interact much with your office mates it is doubtful they know enough about you to recommend your work The bottom line it39s your responsibility to be your own career advocateOf course you don39t want to be the eyeroll inducing Dwight Shrute of your office that person who you39re sure must have carpel tunnel from patting himself on the back every 5 minutes but if you don39t claim your victories every now and then how will others in the company know about them Sure they may see your profile in the company newsletter under quotEmployee Spotlightquot but when was the last time you read through the internal company newsletter Exactly While tooting your own horn may not be an innate talent it is a skill that can be learned improved and eventually perfectedHere are my tips to getting noticed around the office in the right way1 Be generous with your praise of othersWhen you advocate on behalf of the accomplishments of your coworkers they will be more likely to point out your positive contributions in return Reciprocity is a powerful tool and by paying it forward you don39t have to bring yourself up first which will be more comfortable for you As an added bonus when other39s talk about your achievements it comes across more strongly and positively than when you promote yourself2 Share your failures as well as your successesBy being forthcoming with your struggles it shows your humility When sharing your good deeds along with your setbacks it is more of a conversation and less of a plug for your value to the company3 Pursue opportunities to collaborate or help othersShowing is always more powerful than telling When others experience your strengths first hand they will come to associate you with those talents and skills4 Bond over happy hour or the company softball team or a charity cause If you are too swamped to leave your desk much during office hours try becoming closer to your colleagues outside of work Since over a beer a common interest or shared cause people are more relaxed and open it will be an ideal situation for you to make connections in a way that won39t push you so far outside your comfort zone5 Learn how to take a complimentYou may naturally tend to deflect attention from yourself when your boss gives you a verbal fist bump for a project well done or when she offers an accolade for a favorable email from a client singing your praises but resist your temptation to say quotIt was nothingquot Instead say quotthank youquot You earned it claim itA few guidelines to turning your performance review into a raise1 Do your research so you are prepared and armed with the factsFrame the discussion in terms of industry standards in salary compensation Your research will serve to highlight your diligence and as a shield against taking the negotiations too personally Treat it as you would a meeting with a client Stick to the specifics know your goal and have a strategy in place Research the industry standards for the job you are currently doing not the job you were hired to do2 Have a list of your accomplishments and calculate your overall value to the companyQuantify clients you have brought in new business that has resulted directly from your labors money you have saved the company during your tenure new innovations or solutions you39ve created and other tangible results Know what you bring to the table in solid terms that show your value to the bottom line of the company When you demonstrate your value add instead of just talking about what you would like to receive you will keep the discussion performance relatedamp8212and you will feel less anxious because you will be speaking in objective terms3 If you are told that there is a salary freeze or that your contribution is noted and appreciated but a raise is not in the budget at this time counter by asking for a specific timeline as to when the request can be reevaluated and on what criteria the raise would be assessed This way you can develop a plan of action and will be in great shape when the discussion comes around again Also it backs your boss into a corner she now knows that she39s not indefinitely shelving the question only rescheduling it for a time when the company resources allow her to compensate you more fairlyGood Luck on making it up the corporate ladder But I would also suggest expanding your focus beyond the destination may relieve some of your anxiety Make an effort to establish valuable connections pursue opportunities to hone your skills and learn new ones empower yourself to become a leader in industry associations where you can share your expertise and collaborate with other influential people in your business After all life is not only about the destination but about the climbSincerelySaraJoin the Women in Media Mentoring Initiative at WIMMInet Continue the WIMMI conversation on LinkedIn For Women OnlySara is a published writer marketing professional and TV Host Her writing career has taken her from corporate copywriting in San Francisco to creating content for top network TV shows in Los Angeles and finally to online and print media in Las Vegas Sara can be reached at misssarasaysgmailcomRead all Sara39s commentaries at Women in Media Mentoring InitiativeThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Myers Media Business Network management or associated bloggers Myers Media Business Network has an open thought leadership platform and readers may share their comments and opinions in response to all commentaries

Become a Thought Leader. Share your thought leadership article with industry professionals & have them archived in Thought Leadership

Sincerely Sara: How do I ask for a Raise?

Author

Publish date

Channel

Sara Gabriella

Hispanic Leadership Roundtable: Inclusion, Mentorship, and Building the Next Generation (Video) - By Juan Ayala

More Videos:

Become a Thought Leader. Share your thought leadership article with industry professionals & have them archived in Thought Leadership

Sincerely Sara: How do I ask for a Raise?

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

Sara Gabriella

Hispanic Leadership Roundtable: Inclusion, Mentorship, and Building the Next Generation (Video) - By Juan Ayala

The payment was successful

Cookies