How Not To Get a Pay Raise

Tips on things to avoid if you want to increase your chances

There are lots of articles explaining how to get a pay rise but having handled lots of interactions with people who are doing it badly I thought it may be easier to give tips on things to NOT do. As people still keep making these mistakes. Then they appear shocked when they find out they aren’t getting what they feel should be owed to them. This is a list of things that people say or do in a pay discussion or leading up to it that don’t help their cause.

My partner says I am worth more…

• Oh dear, this sounds like you aren’t really convinced but your partner is nagging so much you have to try and ask.

I need the money…

• Oh dear dear, we all make life choices about how we spend or save our income and it doesn’t sound like you have things in control.

I think I am better than xxx in the team …

• Ah, rather than a structured and well-thought argument about depth and breadth of skills, instead you are feeling niggled that someone else may get paid more and you can’t understand why.

I know my appraisal was bad but …

• This started badly at your appraisal and has now got worse, not only did that last discussion identify you weren’t performing well and you haven’t addressed it you now want more money to perform this badly. Would even more money help you perform even worse?

I know I missed the deadline but …

• So your manager is not too impressed by your recent performance but you think it is worth a shot to ask for more money. Good pay reflects good performance so why would you waste everyone's time by even trying for a rise at this time?

Threaten to quit…

• This is a dangerous strategy, unlikely to work, and at the end of the discussion don’t be surprised if your manager feels there is now a risk and will start to check your role can be easily backfilled and your perceived value starts to diminish quickly.

Threaten to not work overtime

• Oh dear, threats again. This softer trick still won’t work, even if your managers empathise with your performance and pay position, this puts them in a difficult situation. Managers don’t like a hard life or even the potential of one. So rather than think about changing your pay their mind will already be on other things and backfilling you.

Not participate in training or team sessions

• Not being a team player is never going to help. Even if you work solo most of the time and are highly productive at some time we all need to work with others.

If you hold back when tasks are being dished out

• If you don’t step forward, volunteer, offer to help out with a grin then don’t be surprised if your manager won’t go the extra mile for you in return.

Always need to be chased up for paperwork and tasks

• Managers have precious little time, and they find they waste a lot of it chasing up just a few people. It is always the same people. Just like you filling in and returning forms is no one's idea of fun but it has to be done. If their team or department is always missing one form, and they chase it several times and it is you, don’t be surprised if you have to chase them several times when it comes to a pay rise. Karma.

When your manager is in the lift or rushing to the door

• As your manager grabs their coat and rushes to the lift, with wrapped birthday present under their arm for their babies' 1st birthday party don’t take that as a hint to start a meaningful conversation. Timing is crucial, as well as a calm and peaceful environment and lack of stress.

When others in the team comment that you won’t help them

• You may have lots of work to do and be deeply engrossed but people who don’t answer phones, don’t reply to instant messages or open emails, get a reputation for not helping. If you know some key elements of the product, market, business then you need to be able to share and communicate it when that data is needed. If you can’t share then it hinders, distracts, and annoy others. Over time this builds up into resentment and moans, but that's OK you had this pay rise in the bag, didn’t you?

When others comment that your style is too abrasive or blunt

• Everyone wants to feel valued and respected and interact in a friendly fashion. Yes, it is important, and if you simply bark information, or add a sarcastic comment at the end of every reply then it will put people off asking. people will then avoid you, reduce interactions and once they speak to others and find they have the same experience it becomes the office norm’ that you are the tricky one. No problem if this pay rise was only $1, then you can afford to lose it.

As you prepare for that important chat it may just be worth running this list through your head to check you aren’t about to say any of these things…

More About The Author

Greg is an experienced software professional and CTO at outsource.dev , having worked in several businesses he is now passionate about helping others succeed in software development, management, and outsourcing.

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