the mafia boss

Tips for Managers and Leaders: Asking Your Boss For A Raise

When asking your boss for a raise, there are a number of things to keep in mind. You need to prepare ahead of time and choose your timing well; focus on the value you add, and anticipate counter-arguments. Before asking your boss for a raise, you should give each of these areas some thought, with the help of the points below:

Prepare for Your Conversation Before Asking Your Boss For A Raise

You definitely don't want to improvise in the meeting where you will be asking your boss for a raise. Here are a few preparatory steps:

• Look at industry benchmarks when good data is available. In many cases it's hard to establish a market value for certain skills, but in other cases, there may be data available. Before asking your boss for a raise, check to see if such information exists.
• Make a list of your achievements. You need to be able to articulate what you have done for the organization and its success. This is perhaps the most important factor to success when asking your boss for a raise.
• Have a number in mind. When asking your boss for a raise, you will know s/he is at least considering it when you are asked for a number. You should not be caught empty-handed when this question comes up. Sometimes, you'll have a specific number in mind. In other cases, you'll want to suggest a range when asking your boss for a raise.

Focus on the Value You Add When Asking Your Boss For A Raise

Just because you want a raise, doesn’t mean you should get one. You need to direct attention to the tangible value you add to the organization and its goals when asking your boss for a raise. If you cannot clearly articulate the value you add, you should reconsider asking your boss for a raise.

• Illustrate the disparity between your current salary and your value. You should draw attention to your achievements and growth. If you have recently assumed more responsibility, then ensure you highlight this when asking your boss for a raise.
• Don’t bad-mouth your co-workers. You should never compare yourself to others in a negative frame. It is acceptable to point out that you have more responsibility, but to promote your own interests by being negative and critical of others will reflect poorly on you when asking your boss for a raise. It is quite likely your boss already knows about others’ performance anyway.
• Connect to the big picture. Draw a direct line between your efforts, and overall organizational goals and results when asking your boss for a raise. It is difficult to argue with a request for a raise if it is blatantly obvious that the results you produce contribute significantly to organizational success.
• Don’t invoke guilt. You should speak rationally about what you feel you deserve when asking your boss for a raise. Do not mention your higher mortgage payments, or cost of living increases. Your boss feels these pressures too. You need to convince your boss that any more money spent on you is a wise investment in future success, NOT just an added expense.

Choose Your Timing Wisely When Asking Your Boss For A Raise

You need to carefully consider your timing when asking your boss for a raise. If you know your boss has had an especially frustrating day or week, you probably will want to delay the conversation. Examples of good times for asking your boss for a raise are:

• When you've had a good performance review.
• When you've been given another form of recognition.
• When you are aware extra money is available.
• When you've been asked to take on additional responsibility.
• When the decision maker is relaxed.

Anticipate Counter Arguments When Asking Your Boss For A Raise

Don’t underestimate the element of negotiation when asking your boss for a raise. You should anticipate potential counter-arguments when asking your boss for a raise. Here are some standard reasons for turning down your request, and how you could counter them:

• Seniority. Seniority isn't a good indicator of value. There are many examples of employees who add more value their first day on the job than someone who has been there for many years.
• Time since last raise. Perhaps it's only been six months since your last raise, but time is not relevant to value. If you have taken on additional responsibility, or are adding more value, then emphasize that these elements are not dependent, and neither should qualifying for a raise be.
• Time as an employee. Perhaps you have only been on the job for six, but have contributed significantly during that period. It is not appropriate to measure value by the time on the job.
• Can’t afford a raise. You need to determine whether this is true or not when asking your boss for a raise. Is there potentially something else that you could ask for instead? For example:
o More time off? Could you negotiate extra vacation time?
o Flex hours? Perhaps you could work more times from home?
o A raise at some future point. If the organization can’t afford a pay raise now, at what point in the future would a raise be conceivable?

Close the Conversation, and the Details When Asking Your Boss For A Raise:

• Confirm effective dates. When does the raise take effect? You need to nail this detail down.
• Confirm follow up dates. If there are follow up actions, you need to specify the date. For example, your boss may say he needs to think about it. This is reasonable, but you should ask what date you need to follow up with him/her.
• If you get nowhere, you need to start looking for alternatives. Never threaten to leave if you don’t get what you want. However, if it's obvious you will not get the raise you want, then it's time to begin a search for a new job.

Improve your leadership skills! Visit www.wilymanager.com for more information about Asking Your Boss For A Raise and more Just-in-Time Management Advice.

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