Think Like a Black Belt to Get a Raise
This is our very first guest blog post. And we couldn’t think of a better person to bring to you than Jim Bouchard. In addition to being one of our favorite people, Jim is a speaker and author of the fantastic book, Think Like a Black Belt. You can get even more familiar with his work by reading his blog.
You’re long overdue for a raise. You psyche yourself up, straighten your tie and march into your manager’s office.
Let’s do a blow by blow –
“I’ve been working here a long time…”
Are you kidding me? Who cares? This is a sure fire way to get fired – if not now, you’ll be on the list. Longevity does not necessarily make you an asset – it may make you a liability.
“My expenses have been going through the roof. My mortgage is up, my ex is pushing for more alimony and I’m trying to put my kids through school. To be blunt, I need the money…”
Who doesn’t? Don’t you think your boss might have the same problems? Your supervisor may be juggling the real-life needs of several employees against a finite payroll budget.
“I’ve been approached by XYZ Inc. and they’re willing to offer me a very
generous compensation package. I’d rather stay but…”
But? But don’t let the door slap you on the butt on the way out!
Ultimatums force decisions; it may not be the decision you anticipate.
What if you could walk into that office with the courage and confidence of a Black Belt? The Black Belt Mindset is about excellence, and excellence creates value. Whether you want a raise, or if you’re selling a product or service to the public – value is power.
Courage and confidence are products of preparation and training. Let’s get on the mat:
- What actual value do you bring to your present position? Be specific. Prepare a list of projects, ideas or clients you’ve handled that have made or saved the company money.
- What do you plan to do in the future? What have you been working on that will make a substantive contribution to the organization? Show projected results. Identify a problem and offer a solution.
- What are you willing to do to become even more valuable? Have you been doing additional training? Are you looking to expand your responsibilities and skills?
- Why is this company important to you? Now is the time to express gratitude for what the company has done for you.
Would you give a raise to a whiner, or to someone you know is completely dedicated to service and continual improvement?
Next time you walk in for a performance review bring the courage and
confidence of a Black Belt, solidly rooted in the knowledge that you bring authentic value to your organization.
Think Like a Black Belt!
(Image in today’s post by hisks)