What Not to Do

So far we’ve talked about all the things you should do in asking for a raise but I do have to address some of the common blunders that people get into and asking for a raise.

One big one is going in and asking on the basis of need.

Oh please.

Was I need this.

My car broke.

My child support payments are behind.

Let me tell you.

You may have the best boss in the world.

Your boss may even be your friend.

I’m sorry this offends anyone but your boss doesn’t care about your needs.

Your boss has his or her own needs and those needs consist of getting the best work out of employees for the lowest possible price because that’s how profits are maximized.

That’s how government agencies are judged on effectiveness.

That’s how everybody is judged.

So your rationale for asking for a raise I believe should never be done on the basis of need.

That’s your problem.

Frankly if you need that much more money you need to either cut your spending or go get another job someplace else.

No one is going to tell you that your boss isn’t going to say that but at some level that is what your boss is thinking.

This is not a welfare organization.

This is not a charity your organization.

If it is there helping people needier than you they’re helping people who don’t have jobs.

So never never never tell your boss I have to have this because I need it because I need a brand new car to impress my friend whatever the reason is your boss doesn’t hear your reasons need to be about the organization how you’re helping the organization be more productive.

As we discussed in the memo that you’ve written and all the positives you’ve talked about.

Do not talk about your needs specifically.

Now another big blunder people make is acting like oh this job is kind of awful.

I need more money.

Just stay here so I’m not depressed again.

No boss wants to hear that they want you happy.

They don’t want to be told they have to pay you off to suffer for what you consider an awful job.

Because with the current economy Believe me there are 10 20 50 people ready to take your job and your boss knows that most likely.

So you can’t act like you need this as a payoff because you’re not that happy about the job.

The next thing you can’t do is say well you better give me this raise or I’ll walk unless you really mean it.

I will address that in a future lecture but I don’t believe it’s ever wise to seem like you’re giving people an ultimatum.

People don’t like pressure you don’t like it when your friends or family or kids tell you you better do what I want or I’m going to do something to hurt you.

So don’t threaten to quit now as we’ll address later if you do get another job offer for higher wages.

And it is very specific and it’s an attractive offer.

That’s another issue we’ll talk about that later.

You also can’t act like you’re doubting yourself.

You can’t act like crazy or would it be okay if I got a 20 percent raise or 5 percent raise.

We address this in the earlier lecture but it’s critical that your tone suggest you’re simply laying out the facts.

You’re very positive about what you’ve done what you’re planning on doing and this would be another positive piece of the whole puzzle.

A raise that reflects your value to the organization.

So please don’t talk about your need.

Don’t whine.

Don’t act like you’re doubting whether you’re worth this and certainly don’t act like you’re putting a gun to the head of your boss my way or the highway.

Even if they like you even if they want to keep you most people’s response is Well if that’s your attitude go ahead we’ll find somebody else and they may well have been prepared to give you an 8 10 20 even 30 percent raise.

So you’ve got to keep things friendly.

You’ve got to keep things past after all presumably you do want to work here you just want more money.

So I beg you don’t make these common blunders.

Don’t tell him how much you need the money.

Don’t tell him how much you want the money will everybody wants more money.

You wanting more money is irrelevant.

Focus on what’s important.

How you are helping the organization how you’ve already helped the organization how you want to the organization even more in the future and take on more responsibility and do more and better work do that and you won’t be committing any of the common blunders that undermine people’s big ask.