3 Things That Can Keep You From Getting The Raise You Deserve + How To Fix Them

 When I think of the global community  of ambitious, driven, creative women who are making life happen on  their own terms, it makes me proud. It also strengthens my belief in  women who are pursuing their life’s passions and making a difference in  the world.But let’s face it: Negotiating salaries is challenging  for many women for a number of reasons, one of them being that we aren’t  taught to talk about money. It’s time to start acknowledging what we  are bringing to the table and start asking for what we are worth. Here  are three tips to get started on becoming your own best advocate and  getting that raise you deserve:

1. Start celebrating your accomplishments.

Women  aren’t usually encouraged to celebrate ourselves. Historically, we've  been taught to be modest and value collective success over individual  achievement. But this doesn’t do us any favors.Here are some actions you can take right now to get going: 

• Make a list of your achievements (and pull it out whenever you need a reminder of all you’ve done). 
• Take credit for the awesome ideas you contribute to your team. 
• Give your boss the chance to tangibly see how much you’ve accomplished. 
• And  if you are asking for a raise or promotion, you need to be willing to  share your accomplishments in a clear, logical, persuasive way. 
• Connect your successes to the bigger picture and the company’s overall goals. 
• Get clear and communicate how you have helped uplift your company’s mission and vision as well as the people around you.

2. Get comfortable talking about money.

Talking  about money is taboo in our society. But in order to find our true  power, we need to be bolder about advocating for our financial  well-being and security. I recommend talking about money and raises with  close friends and family as well as asking them how they deal with  these issues. Also, do your homework and research salaries in your  industry. These websites (salary and pay scale)  are good resources. If it feels appropriate, ask colleagues how much  they make. Have a specific number in mind, and be unapologetic about  naming it when you ask for your raise.Having this hard conversation truly starts with you.  Get clear about what you want. When you clearly state your intentions  to yourself, you’ll be better positioned to talk about money and  negotiate with your boss without wavering.

3. Step into your confidence.

Asking  for a raise can be incredibly intimidating, but part of being a great  negotiator is going into this conversation with the perspective that  what you are asking for is a win-win for everyone.When you are  confident—which I view as being passionate, joyful, and  purpose-driven—people notice and respond. Doors that may have been  previously closed begin to open. So take a cue from what inspires you.  Wouldn’t it be amazing for you to be able to offer even more of your talents to your organization? And how great would it be if you were rewarded for the work you were already doing? Assume that your boss wants to support you—and be willing to give him or her ideas on how to do so.Instead  of going into defensive mode or allowing your mind to spin, take some  time to simply breathe and center yourself in your body before the  conversation. Remember: Think win-win, and relax while you’re at it!Take these simple tips and boldly ask for that raise you deserve.