How to ask for a payrise

Introvert Whisperer / How to ask for a payrise How to Ask for a Payrise Emma Otusajo June 17, 2019 Communication, Dealing with Fear No responses Go to top Do you wince at the idea of asking your manager for a payrise? Or do you think it’s not worth bothering because you know what the answer would be? Money’s not exactly a topic we’re encouraged to talk about and, with businesses making cutbacks everywhere, it’s easy to think that it’d be impossible to get an increase in your salary, especially not simply by asking! More than half of all employees don’t ask for a pay rise for all sorts of reasons, the most common ones being they don’t think they’ll get it or that the budget is set in stone. But it’s not and you don’t have to muddle along, potentially being paid less than you’re worth. So, how can you justify your worth to your manager that persuades them to put their hands in their pocket? How do you build up the boldness and the courage to ask? Here are some tips to help next time you ask for a raise: Justify your value Think about how you can show your value using facts and figures. Have you exceeded your sales targets? Have you delighted customers in some way? Use positive feedback, sales figures and the company’s key performance indicators to measure your value and what you are bringing to the company, suggests Oliver Lee, manager of Host my BnB. This way, you can start to show in black and white exactly what you’re worth. With a job that has value difficult to measure, such as a job in social care, you can put forward how many successful outcomes you’ve had with customers or specify how much you have helped customers over X period of time. Check Out Other Companies Director of workforcepositive.com, Kearin Lowry, suggests finding out what salaries other companies in your sector are paying their staff to do a similar job. Have a look at some job websites, such as GlassDoor, to find out what others in your profession are getting in their salary, says Oliver Lee. Kearin suggests saying something like: “I’ve noticed that the average salary for positions similar to mine are 5% above my current rate and I have 5+ years of experience”, then ask for a meeting with your manager to talk about this in more detail. This way, you can use it as a good benchmark when asking for boss for a payrise. You might even impress your boss that you’ve done your homework and come to the meeting with your facts and with confidence! Write it all down During conversations, it can be easy to lose your track, especially if you’re a manager is more of an extrovert or tends to speak extensively. People and change consultant, Celia Swales, suggests writing down all of the points you want to raise, how different aspects are making you feel. Write down possible responses for points you think your boss might raise, too and prepare some reasonable answers Practice in the Mirror It’s not just what you say it’s the way you say it and the body language, too! As with a job interview or any other challenging conversation, you usually practice what you’re going to say, but practice facial expressions as well. You know the way you sometimes freeze at a question in an interview? When you practice those facial expressions, focus on how your face feels when you smile or relax and practice away from the mirror, perhaps with a friend. This will help you when you’re having the actual conversation with your manager. If you feel yourself freezing up, take a breath, relax your facial muscles and smile, before answering. Be Realistic Let’s be real here. It’s unlikely you’re going to get an extra 20% increase, so consider asking for a reasonable amount of money. The average salary raise for staff that asks for it is around 2% of their salary. The other part of being realistic is that your boss may tell you the payrise you want isn’t possible, but instead offer you something you a raise slightly lower than what you asked for. Open Questions = Open Mind When going into a meeting, many people have the mindset that they want to get their points across be heard. However, it’s important to listen to what your manager has to say and, when you get an answer that you may expect, such as a no, if you ask some open questions, this can open up the conversation, Celia highlights. She suggests asking questions, such as what would you be looking to see from me that would warrant a pay rise? or what impact does me asking for a raise have on you? These sorts of questions may allow for discussion in more detail and be a doorway into more negotiation. Choose the Right Time You should never feel like your issues aren’t important enough to bother your manager with, states Sarah Aubrey, CEO of HR training provider, DPG Plc. However, choosing the right time to ask for a chat is important. If you know your manager is stressing to finish an end-of-month report and pulling their hair out, maybe just hold on until they’ve finished. Alternatively, just send them a quick email and ask if you can have a chat when they get a minute. What’s the Worst That Can Happen? Often, people are made to feel like their salary or wage is set in stone, as set by the employer. What’s more, it’s not in our nature to think of asking for more money but you know what? You should! The worst that can happen is you can face a straight ‘no’ for now, and if this is the case, you can always ask your manager what you would have to do to get one and then work towards that for the future. Try to keep the gates open for asking again in the future. By Emma Otusajo Emma is a freelance article,  content and copywriter, specialising in areas including career, events and sustainability. She loves the written word and enjoys working with businesses to write great content that interests their customers and brings results. An introvert at heart , she loves connecting with others and writing inspirational stories. You can follow here on her website at  Emma Writes. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer