ALT-1 Get that Raise Put yourself in your Bosss Shoes
Empathy is a useful skill but nowhere is it more valuable than when it comes to getting a raise. If you can put yourself in your boss's shoes you're nine-tenths of the way to getting the raise you want. Here's an easy way to put yourself in your boss's shoes, that makes asking for a raise almost fun, and getting one virtually guaranteed.
Your boss has a lot of responsibilities, and concerns that you probably rarely give much thought to, after all they're his job, not yours. But when it comes to getting a raise, if you are able to see things from your boss's standpoint, you'll be dollars ahead.
But how can you know what concerns your boss most? How can you most effectively put yourself in his or her shoes?
It's actually very easy to put yourself in your boss's shoes, and you don't have to be a mind-reader to do it.
To find out what's on your boss's mind, all you have to do is ask them.
Now, your boss may be surprised that you care enough about their concerns to bring this up. That's fine. Don't qualify your question, just wait patiently for your boss's response.
You may find, that their are some critical areas that are troubling your boss, perhaps things that you never before considered.
You don't have to come up with a solution to these problems, all you have to do is listen. Because, by listening, you'll begin to see things from your boss's standpoint.
When your boss has finished giving you the low-down on their biggest concerns, summarize - without comment or judgment - the concerns your boss has articulated. This validates your boss, and confirms to him or her that you have listened to them. Your boss will also feel supported by you. Again, it's important to merely summarize your boss's concerns and not attempt to alleviate them or minimize them in any way.
Over the next day or so think of ways that you might address one or more of your boss's concerns. Offer these suggestions to your boss. These don't have to be big changes that will solve all of your boss's problems, just the fact that you are attempting to help will relieve some of your boss's stress about them.
Then, once you've provided your boss with your suggestions, and your offer to assist as much as you can, tell your boss that you'd appreciate it if he or she could help you with your problem, which is that you require an increase in salary. Have a specific dollar amount in mind. Tell your boss that a raise of this dollar amount would meet your needs and solve your problem.
Your boss, if it is within his or her power to do so, will raise your salary by this amount immediately. They may even ask if the raise is big enough. Your boss will do this because it is a rare and valuable thing in the business world, or in the rest of our lives for that matter, to encounter anyone who takes the time to discover our needs, and then tries to meet them. Your boss won't be willing to risk losing you, and in fact, will welcome the opportunity to pay you back in kind and solve your problem by giving you the raise you desire.
