We assume if we work hard we’ll get the raise, promotion, or award we deserve. You know what assuming does. (If you don’t know, email me.) Reality check: Most managers don’t notice everything we do to get our jobs done. They can’t. They’re too busy trying to get their own jobs done. If you want recognition, you have to campaign for it. Raises, promotions, and awards cost the company money. They will invest in value-added employees who either bring in revenue or save it. When we feel like we deserve a raise, promotion, or award, we need to present a case for why it’s in the company’s best interest to reward us. Here’s a three step process for getting the recognition you deserve:
Prepare: Your company has guidelines for raises, promotions, and awards. Look for them on your intranet or in your employee handbook. If these guidelines are not public, start digging. Ask your manager how to find them. If he doesn’t know, ask your HR representative. It’s crucial to find out what you have to do to get recognized and demonstrate how giving you what you want benefits the company. Once you read the guidelines, write down everything you’ve done to meet them. Quantify your success as much as possible. IE: “I was instrumental in increasing production 7% for the month of May, 2018,” is more impressive than “I helped increase production last month.” If you habitually track your accomplishments, this task won’t take long (and if you don’t, you should. It makes performance review prep SO much easier). But, if you don’t, resist the temptation to rush this part of the process. Take at least a couple of days, if not a full work week to complete it. You’ll be surprised what you remember you accomplished while you are actually doing your job. After you’ve written everything you can think of, distill these thoughts down to a bullet point list of your top (no more than) ten accomplishments. You’ll hand this list to your manager in a 1:1.
Practice: Weave these points into a narrative to tell your manager after handing him the list. Give him something to look at besides you, but don’t quote verbatim something he could read himself. This list and your story are ammunition he can use when he goes to bat for you with the higher-ups. In a concise speech clearly articulate: Why you want what you want, why it’s in his best interest to give you what you want, and how the company will benefit from giving you what you want. Practice your presentation in front of a mirror. Your goal is to look confident, relaxed, and persuasive. Make your delivery professional and non-emotional. Annual job performance reviews are the perfect time to speak to your manager about what you want from your job and from the company, and since you know when it’s coming, you have time to rehearse. Read this to help you prepare.
Pushback: Just because you ask for something doesn’t mean you’ll get it. Prepare for objections. Note why you can’t have what you’re asking for. Does the company not have enough money to give you a raise right now? Is there a skill you lack for a promotion? Are there other people up for the award? Ask what you can do in the next six months to get what you want. Do you need to exceed your sales goal by 5% in order to be considered for a raise? Do you need to learn basic coding to get a promotion? Do you need to volunteer more in your community to be considered for the award? Make the answers to these questions S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-focused, Time-bound) goals. Set a reminder in your calendar to meet with your manager again in six months to discuss how you achieved them and if you can now get what you want. If you really want that raise, promotion, or award, you may have to be persistent. It’s natural to be disappointed, but if you let that stop you, ask yourself how badly you really want it. Is it worth your T.E.A.M.? If the answer is yes, then keep hustling and go get it!
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