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WHEN THE CONVERSATION IS ABOUT... YOUR RAISE or PROMOTION
Asking for a raise, for most people, is a lot like asking for a root canal. You know you need to do it, but is it worth the pain?
Early in my career, I was just happy to have a job with some potential "potential." When I was given more responsibility, I would eventually work up enough courage to ask how my salary/title would be adjusted. And the funny thing was, my boss was genuinely surprised at the question. Lesson number one - don't surprise your boss!
The conversation generally went one of 3 ways:
1. Ah, gee, ah, well, ah, hmmmm. I'll need to get back to you on that
2. You'll need to talk to HR and fill out a form or something
3. Think of the great experience you're getting - should be rewarding enough right now, don't you think?
I generally did what I felt comfortable doing and if that didn't work, I did what a lot of people do. I changed jobs to grow my career. While it's both necessary and smart for all of us to do this sometimes, it should not be the only way to grow one's career. Finally, I figured it out. We have to be smart about asking for what we want. The conversation MUST be given the time, it and you, deserve.
We need to be our own advocates in getting paid what we and our jobs are worth. If you find that awkward, painful, or wrong, I can empathize, and you'll keep getting what you've been getting. Often organizations and businesses are short-sighted about retention and developing their best people. Some people even believe that someone who doesn't ask isn't hungry or motivated or driven enough. Never-the-less, it's often up to you.
So, I will repeat this key point...You MUST ask for what you want/need. AND there is more. You also MUST be able to prove that you deserve it. This requires work on your part, including planning the CONVERSATION.
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