Chances are your employer probably only knows half of what you do for them. It’s not a knock on your boss. Often times you are holding a position that they have never held or haven’t done in quite some time. Things change, as does the evolution of your position. When it comes time to start asking for more money, contract negotiation or a one on one where you want to show the company your worth-make sure you do a great job of telling your story.
There is a fine line between bragging and telling your story. It’s honestly hard to talk about yourself or your accomplishments without sounding egotistical right? Yet, in order to get what you want (raise, promotion, recognition) you need to find that line.
Here are 7 tips on how to tell your story:
Plan your speech. Write out bullet points and practice how you plan to say it, what they might say and how you plan to react. Try to see all the angles and bullet proof your information by attempting to see both sides.
Understand that the place will not explode if you were to walk out. It won’t. Business will continue and eventually they will find people to do your job. Embrace that you are great at what you do, but never underestimate that in business-change (good and bad) always opens opportunities. Be cautious and aware of your line in the sand as well as theirs.
Speak in words that appeal to the person you are trying to convince. It makes no sense to tell your boss that you do X, Y and Z if they don’t know what that really is or how it affects the bottom line. You may have to teach them your job before you can show them how awesome you are at it. The bean counters are looking for measurable actions. Take this into consideration when explaining your value.
Do not hold yourself or your talents hostage. Know that you will have to do more to get more. Even though you are probably underpaid (who isn’t right?) you will always need to increase your workload in order to hit your goals. Nobody ever gets the deal they want by saying “But… I no longer want to do this…” at the negotiation table.
It is not You vs. Them! I cannot tell you how many times I have negotiated a contract with someone and watched their body language change as soon as we start negotiating terms. This is a team effort. Chances are they want you there and you want to be there. Work together with this person and attach “visuals” to the numbers. Meaning, illustrate why they need to pay this amount. What are they getting that nobody else can do?
In order to get the job, you need to be already doing the job. Nobody ever gets promoted to a position that’s entirely made up of things they have never done before (unless it’s the boss’s son). They might feel that the title might just be a formality, but you need to make sure they understand that it is imperative to you and your goals.
Lastly, don’t wait till you get to the negotiation table to tell your story. You should be actively telling it all the time. Look for subtle opportunities to show your overall worth. Be clear with your goals at all times and make sure your employer knows what you want to accomplish. The negotiation table is the wrong place for people to suddenly learn that you want to be promoted. Your employer should know well in advance. (Also, shame on them for not asking you about your goals prior to this moment)
