Ask For What You Want: You’re Worth It!

In my coaching practice, and in interviews I’ve conducted around the country, I see women, time and time again, waiting in the proverbial wings of their organizations – hoping and praying that they’ll be given a raise or promotion.

As the saying goes, ‘hope is not a strategy’. If you’re at a point where you have a proven track record at work, you’re read

y for that raise or new challenge, and you’re leaving it to your boss to make the first move…you could be waiting a very long time.

For some bosses, employees only pop onto their radar if there is a problem. You may be doing such a good job at work that you go unnoticed because you aren’t asqueaky wheel.

The only person responsible for moving your career forward is you, so it’s important to be proactive and ask for what you want on the job.

Make Your Case

Request a meeting with your boss, and be prepared to talk about the strategic mission of your organization, how your work has furthered that mission, and how your accomplishments have positively affected the bottom line. Let your boss know your goals going forward, and speak up if you feel you deserve a raise.

Shake-up the Status Quo

It’s common to feel you need to play by certain rules when it comes to moving up in an organization, but I encourage you to push the envelope where you can. Offer up new ideas, or to spearhead a project that moves the company in a new direction – be the innovator on your team. While there may be standard protocols in place for pay increases or promotions, your initiative may be the impetus that inspires your boss to help you move ahead. Bringing creative, innovative ideas to the table can help you stand out and demonstrate your value to your organization.

Risk Hearing a No

Start the discussion, letting your boss know that you’re interested in new challenges and levels of responsibility, and see where it leads. You may be afraid to hear a ‘no’ – but you don’t know until you try. The answer could very well be an unequivocal ‘Yes.’ You may be surprised at how easy it is to get what you want if you just ask for it!