We’ve probably all been there, ladies.  You have a birthday or holiday in your past when the gift you received was not the romantic jewelry or flowers you’d been dreaming about for months.

Instead, you opened the package only to look up with a frozen smile and a forced “Thank You” that belied the “What were you thinking?” that was running through your head.  And to be fair, the giver probably genuinely expected you to like it.  So as you “admired” your new yard rake, you were wondering what went wrong.  Sure you never actually told him you wanted something romantic even though you’d been dropping hints for months.  Besides, if you actually had to tell him what you want, it’s not worth it.  He should know.

Right?

Now translate that into business.  You want a raise.  In your mind, you deserve it.  After all, you’ve been at the company a long time now, your performance has been excellent and your work is quality.  Your boss should know.  So far, hints have been dropped – sprinkled into your conversation like salt.  At one point you courageously ask.  Your boss says no, but gives you a new stapler instead.

Generally speaking, women wanting a raise or promotion wait to be noticed and rewarded.  That’s an invitation for frustration.  In business, you have to plan for what you want and ask for it specifically.  Here, I’ve condensed some of the best strategies for successfully making your request.

List the reasons you deserve a raise. Consider what you’ve accomplished and how you’ve increased your value or worth to the company.  Site specific examples and, where possible, back up as many as you can with quantifiable measurements.  Research salary scales on your profession in this market area and make sure you’re in line. A boss must justify increased expenses with value to the organization.  This is especially true if your boss must go through their boss to make the request.  Be sure you’ve armed him/her enough evidence to justify the increase.

Next, write down what you want – specifically. Raises come in a variety of flavors.  You may want money, but do you want a % increase in salary, a flat dollar amount, or an increase in commission or bonus.  How much? And what about options like flex time, benefits, or tuition reimbursement for continuing education?   This gives you flexibility and negotiation room.  If a boss is not inclined to offer you money, have in mind acceptable alternatives.   It could be the difference between getting something versus nothing at all.

Finally, plan your timing and approach. This is conversation must happen face-to-face and not in an email or letter.  Schedule the meeting ahead of time.  Be clear and confident with your request.  Remember that planning works, hinting does not.

There are many great resources for planning a successful strategy. I recommend the link: http://www.businessballs.com/payrise.htm

Unless of course you just need a new stapler.

Tags: asking for a raise, Business, courage, goals, money, raise, Sales
Categories: Business, Success.

Posted on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
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