Tue, 31 May 2011 17:57:39 -0800WeeblyFri, 18 Mar 2011 15:55:23 -0800http://www.payrise-payraise.com/2/post/2011/03/the-dos-of-asking-for-a-pay-raise.htmlArrange your meeting in advance.
To be considered seriously it is important that you have your boss’s undivided attention. If you ask when the person you need to speak with is

Rehearse.
A wise man once said “repetition is the mother of skill.” Rehearsing might sound cheesy but if you understand the science behind it then you will have a better appreciation for why it is so important. When in a new, stressful or uncomfortable situation our brain is rapidly trying to find similar experiences that it can draw from so it knows what to do in this new situation. The ac t of rehearsing out loud with a trusted partner means that your brain, mouth and body language will all fall into the pattern that you have already established. Rehearse, rehearse and rehearse again with someone that is happy to play the role of your boss. It will make you feel so much more comfortable and able to think clearly when you do ask for your pay raise.

Highlight performance before you ask for something in return.
You need your boss to actively agree that you are valuable before you ask for more in return.  Always start out your negotiation talking through where you exceed expectations, and have all the possible evidence that you can to prove the value that you offer before moving on to ask for a salary increase.

Use the “Yes ladder.”
A tool often referred to by sales people, the yes ladder can be very easy to use and very powerful when used correctly. This refers to getting people into the rhythm of saying yes before you ask for a pay raise. As an example:-

“So you can see how I am exceeding my targets?” (Boss responds yes.)

“And I hope it’s clear that I am now doing a lot more than my initial job description?” (Boss responds yes.)

“So you would agree that it’s the right time to talk about a pay raise for me?” (Boss responds yes.)

Be on top of your work.
If you haven’t achieved everything on you’re to do list and you are not hitting the milestones that your boss expects of you then it will be easy for them to say no and point out that you aren’t achieving what’s required. You need to have a high level of visibility for all your achievements. A little bit of self-promotion is always a good thing so always forward to your boss any positive reviews that you receive and find small opportunities to highlight achievements.

Be positive, agreeable and confident.
Asking for a pay raise should be a pleasurable experience for you. When you feel you genuinely deserve something, then you are just asking to be justly rewarded for your accomplishments. Having a positive and agreeable demeanour, a calm tone and open body language is critical when asking for a pay raise. If you are showing signs of being comfortable and relaxed then it reinforces in your bosses mind that you feel that you are worth what you are asking, and that you are serious about your request.

Good luck with getting your salary incres ]]>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 02:37:00 -0800http://www.payrise-payraise.com/2/post/2011/03/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit.htmlThe “Don’t of asking for a raise”

Never ask for a pay rise due to external factors.

While your boss is a nice person, they don’t pay you because the interest rates have gone up, you have a holiday to pay for, or your children are going to college. They pay you because of the value that you have to offer. Only ask for a pay raise based on performance and the value you offer.

Never give an ultimatum.
People never respond well to an ultimatum. Your job is a reciprocal relationship – your boss needs you just as much as you need them. Always look for a win-win based situation when negotiating a pay rise.

Be too busy talking to listen.
Listen to the reasons your boss is saying no. It will help you understand what you need to know to get to yes in salary negotiation.

Don’t talk too much.
If you are talking around the issue without being clear, the message that your boss receives is that you are nervous and not confident that you deserve your pay raise. Clear, succinct and straightforward statements are very powerful.

Don’t be scared of silence.
Silence is a powerful negotiation tool. When we are awkward to nervous we can talk too much rather. Once you have made a statement or a request, then you will need close your mouth and wait quietly for the response. There might be an awkward moment or silence. That’s fine. It’s all part of negotiation and the longer that you can comfortably wait in silence, the more likely you are to receive what you are asking for.

Don’t lose your cool.
Aggressive or belligerent body language or tonality will turn it into a confrontation, where your boss has to “win” by not agreeing with you. It’s crucial that you are the right level of agreeable while being reasonable and confident in pay negotiation.

Don’t wait for the right time.
If you keep waiting for the right time then it will never come. Now is the right time. There will always be reasons to hold off on asking for a pay rise. What’s far more important are all of the reasons why you should ask for a pay rise raise right now.

Never negotiate with someone who can only say no to you.
Sometimes it’s not our boss that has the final say. They will only say no to you, because it is not within their power to say yes. Ensure that you determine the right person that you need to speak with to negotiate your pay raise.

Thanks and good luck!

Sean Thomas
www.payrise-payraise.com
]]>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 01:59:49 -0800http://www.payrise-payraise.com/2/post/2010/12/negotiating-your-pay-raise.html There comes a time for all of us when we have been within our job for a year or more and we know it is time to ask for a pay raise. Our individual situations might vary – some organizations have a regular review meeting to discuss pay increases, while at others the mere mention of discussing salary will see your boss running for the hills.

One thing is certain though - asking for a higher wage is a nerve wracking process that often leaves us disappointed and wondering if we could have done better.

But it doesn’t have to be this way if you do the necessary preparation beforehand.

Why do I deserve a pay raise?
It’s a simple truth that your boss hires you for a reason, either because you make your business money, save your business money, or save your business time.  Spend some time making a list of all the ways that you do these things, and the unique skills you have that others might not. Wherever possible try to put a dollar amount on the amount on the value you are contributing.

How much should I ask for?
Be creative with your request! Don’t just focus on your base wage as there are a lot of additional bonuses you might find a lot easier to negotiate, particularly when your business is being cost conscious. Promotions and increased responsibility, additional paid annual leave, reduced working hours, the opportunity to work from home, professional education expenses, a mobile phone or laptop, stock options and even more can all be negotiated as part of a pay raise.

Getting to yes
You won’t always get what you ask for the first time around, but that doesn’t mean that negotiation is over. It just means that you need to ask the question “I understand you might not be able to say yes right now.  What needs to happen over the next 6 months so we are both happy with me getting the raise I am after?”

And remember last of all that the noisy bird gets fed! The best time to ask for a pay raise is right now and provided it’s done politely and professionally your boss will respect your courage and ambition.

www.payrise-payraise.com ]]>Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:47:00 -0800http://www.payrise-payraise.com/2/post/2010/10/getting-past-last-minute-nerves-when-asking-for-a-pay-raise.htmlFor most of us, asking our boss for a pay raise can often be a daunting task.

We can be victims to our own emotions, second guessing the reasons why our boss might not agree with our request, and some even fantastise that they their boss might be so upset with the request that their job will be in jeopardy! With these conflicting emotions it's unsurprising that we might end up not doing anything, and  and keep wondering what might have been.

But the truth is that the vast majority of employers actually expect you to negotiate your salary when you first start your new job, and again the majority expect that will ask for a salary increase at some point during your career.

There isn't room here to go into all of the depth that I do in "The Insider's Guide To Getting The Pay Raise That You Deserve", but as a basic overview of how to not let your nerves get in the way:-

1. Write down all the reasons why you desever a raise
2. Have a specific amount that you are going to ask for in mind
3. Ask yourself some good questions like "Has anyone ever asked for a pay rise and got it?" or "How would my own boss ask for a salary increase?"
4. Do some throrough research and bring evidence to the meeting with your boss
5. Rehearse rehearse rehearse!

Some of these steps will have you feeling more comfortable and confident about asking for an increase in your salary, and help you get past any last minute nerves.

Don't forget to rehease - it's so important. When we are in uncomfortable situations that we don't experience every day we can let nerves get the better out of us, and maybe blurt out something we wouldn't usually say. These mistakes can end up being very expensive when asking for a pay raise! Through having a few key points or even a script that you rehearse with a friend then you will find yourself naturally saying the same things to your boss when in a more pressured situation.

Good luck, and I'm happy to answer any questions here in this forum!

Sean Thomas
www.payrise-payraise.com
]]>Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:45:18 -0800http://www.payrise-payraise.com/2/post/2010/08/the-insiders-guide-to-getting-the-pay-raise-that-you-deserve.htmlWelcome, and I hope that you like the layout of my new site!

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for their kind words and feedback on the guide, your emails and stories of success have really inspired me and there is nothing better than hearing about how things have changed for you.

I know this blog has been a long time coming, but it has been more about my lack of web knowledge than lack of desire, but with the right technical help (thanks guys!) and the new site I am really looking forward to sharing regular updates for all of you with my hints, tips and suggestions on getting the pay raise that you deserve.

I will be writing about how to ask for pay raises, negotiation tips, information on how to ask for a promotion, how to ask for reduced working hours, how to ask for bonuses, and more.

If you have any requests or suggestions for articles then please contact me through the 'About Us' page and I look forward to hearing from you.

All the best,

Sean Thomas
www.payrise-payraise.com ]]>