Does Your Paycheck Still Make Cents?

• Are you tired of making other people rich while you’re barely scraping by?

• Are you uneasy about asking for a raise even though you consistently add value to your employer?

• Are you looking for a different place to work, when you just need a small bump in pay?

I don’t know about you, but at different seasons in my life, I definitely could’ve answered “yes” to those questions.

In this post, we’ll explore a few ways to ask for more green without being mean.

Salary negotiation.

But, before we talk about the salary negotiation conversation, let’s talk about what you can do to prepare for it.

1. BE A GIVER, NOT A TAKER

One thing I’ve observed in my 20 year career is there are two types of employees who come to work - givers and takers. You know them when you see them.

The Givers are super-easy to work with.  They’re always willing to pitch in and give you and your project 110% of their attention. You don’t get the feeling that you ever “owe them one.” They just give and expect nothing in return!

Chances are you are drawn towards these people. So it only stands to reason that if you are a giver you’ll attract the very type of people you want to work with.

On the other end of the spectrum are the Takers.

These are the people who have to take all the credit, have to have all of the answers, or always have to be right. They suck the energy right out of the team and feel like an immense drain to your business, project, or cause.

In fact, they demand that you work on their schedule, according to their priorities, and on their timelines. Are you sensing a theme yet? Takers are completely focused on themselves and not on other people.

Be a Giver, not a Taker!

2. SOLVE YOUR OWN PROBLEMS

Let’s face it! Another step in negotiating your salary is by solving your own problems.

There are tons of problems, challenges, and obstacles on the job. People who want a raise understand that they must solve their own problems, so that other people don’t end up wasting their time helping them out.

Let’s be honest, everyone has problems. People who work towards solving their own problems definitely get ahead of those who complain, ask for tons of help, or simply express their frustration to other members of the team on a regular basis.

Solving your own problems is your next step.

In next week’s post we'll continue to discuss ways you can negotiate your salary and make the money you deserve!