The dawn of a new year prompts many of us to evaluate our lives and make bold moves designed to improve them. In many cases, our careers are the focus of these changes. Maybe you noticed some in your network changing career paths recently. If you are not looking to leave your job, but don’t feel adequately compensated, it might be time to ask for a raise.
Scott Wilson of the Los Angeles Times offers a few tips for broaching this delicate subject with your boss. If you have read my book, Speaking that Connects, or attended a Speaking that Connects workshop, this advice may seem a bit familiar. That is because any form of face-to-face persuasion is essentially a presentation, even if you only have an audience of one.
Some of Scott Wilson’s tips are; outline your strengths, focus on other benefits, and rehearse. Rehearsing is so important that it is included with many of our programs. If you need help outlining your strengths, capitalize on the diagrammed process in Speaking that Connects. It will help focus and expedite your preparation. And don’t forget to be flexible and have a Plan B, like Wilson’s suggestion of targeting non-salary benefits.
You don’t need a microphone, stage, podium, or even a room full of people to be a presenter. We often forget that we make incidental presentations day to day. Remember that persuading is one type of presenting. When you need to get your point across, even to just one person, prepare the same way you would if you were delivering a more formal speech.
