It doesn’t take a study to prove that men are typically better at asking for what they want and women tend to ask for what they feel is reasonable. Here are some thoughts on how to get what you want.
1. Turn off the negative voice in your head. Stop telling yourself that what you are asking for is impossible.
2. Get clear on what it is that you want. Write down all of the things that you want from your job that will motivate you. Not all rewards have to do with compensation. Often flexibility or ability to work from home are high in the list. It’s impossible to get what you want if you can’t clearly express what it is that you are asking for.
3. When asking for a raise don’t just ask for what you think you can get – confidently ask for what you feel you deserve. Don’t do a comparison of what everyone else in the company is making or what the market analysis looks like. Present an argument based on the dollar value that you have brought into the company, the revenue you have generated or financial losses you have prevented.
4. Remember that if you never ask for something the answer will always be no. So take a shot at getting what you want and prepare a professional presentation to go after it.
5. Don’t begin the discussion by apologizing for asking for additional benefits or compensation. This puts you in a position of giving your power away by asking for forgiveness when you aren’t doing anything wrong.