Negotiate For More Than A Raise

Turns out, I am not quite done with my negotiation hot takes 😈

(Though I promise, this is the last one for now!)

We’ve talked about ways to bring up pricing in a more collaborative way via the “how does that hit ya?” method,

And we’ve explored the importance of asking for a raise even if it “doesn’t feel like the right time”…

So, I figured we would end this accidental three-part series with a bang:

What other things can (and should) you negotiate for?

(Yes, that’s right, negotiating is about more than just your income, and there are actually SO MANY THINGS you can ask for during a negotiation!)

I know for myself, asking for a raise often felt like such a big deal that the idea of ✨asking for more✨ felt greedy.

But I am here to tell you that not only is this not true, this line of thinking is actively holding you back.

It’s time to get more comfortable asking for the things you want and deserve, and you can only achieve that goal by knowing what options you have during a negotiation and coming prepared.

This is a bit of tough love, but I promise, this lesson is better learned early.

So, consider this newsletter as your introduction to the wild world of approaching negotiations like an over-confident, under-qualified white man.

(Not that we want to be like them, we just want to borrow their energy for a bit)

Let’s get into it!

The people who get more are the people who ask

(Yes, this sucks. But unfortunately, it is true)

Here’s the hard-hitting truth:

To get a raise or to land extra perks, you need to be willing to ask for them, because there is no way in hell that you will be offered anything but the bare minimum otherwise.

This email list is made up predominantly of women from a healthcare background, so I am going to speak to our experience to make this point stick.

In healthcare, we are taught not to look out for ourselves, but to be selfless and put the needs of others first.

This is great (in theory) — because, of course, we want our nurses and healthcare workers to be compassionate, understanding, and willing to go the extra mile.

But, where this mentality really breaks down is when it comes to self-advocating for what we want when talking to our bosses and clients.

This is not a skill healthcare workers are taught to do, and, on top of that, it is actually a skill we are encouraged not to participate in.

• Want a vacation day off but didn’t get it approved? Oh well, that’s just how it goes!

• Unit is understaffed but you said you would be home for dinner? Don’t be selfish, take on for the team and stay!

• Evening and overnight rates keep getting cut? Well, compared to [X state or X province], we are already making so much more, so we really shouldn’t be complaining!

Please don’t let the idea of “having enough” stop you from advocating for yourself.

It is great that you have enough. And better yet, it’s OK that you want and are asking for more.

Key takeaway — you need to be prepared to advocate for yourself to get what you want.

Don’t give your clients or your bosses the power by not asking.

The goal of every negotiation is to get in the habit of asking — because the more you ask for, the more will come your way.

(And, in exciting news, there are SO many things you can ask for once you get started!)

You can literally ask for anything and everything (and you should)

While getting more money is never a bad thing,

(Unfortunately, in the end-stage capitalism hellscape that we live in, it kinda dictates a lot of our lives)

It is not the only thing you can and should ask for when negotiating.

Diversifying the areas you advocate for yourself within is only ever a good thing — and it allows you to keep the conversation moving forward even after being denied a raise.

Not sure what is on the table for a negotiation? Here are just a few options worth exploring, whether you are a freelancer or a salaried worker.

Things you can negotiate for as a salaried worker:

(List in part inspired by The Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap. Do yourself a favor and read this damn book!)

• A new job title

• Increased PTO

• Better health benefits or health allowances

• Work schedule flexibility (WFH or flexible start times)

• Conference or career development allowances

• Better parking access

• Company stocks

• Improved working equipment

If you freelance, there are still lots of things you can negotiate for outside of a raise as well, like:

• Bylines and/or a personal profile on the website

• Increased say in future projects

• The ability to add samples to your portfolio

• Finalizing retainer or flat fee projects

• More flexible deadlines

• Sharing your work and name on their social media

Reminder — it’s not about hearing a YES to everything, it’s about being brave enough to ask and advocate for yourself.

We are so often told to be thankful for what we have (which is important) and told that asking for more is greedy (it surely is not).

The sky is truly the limit — as long as you know what you want to ask for.

Great negotiation involves planning

Finally, to increase your chances of actually getting some of the things you ask for (and to make the entire process less daunting), you need to come into a negotiation conversation prepared.

I know that negotiations are scary (they often feel very confrontational and awful, I totally get that)

But they are also necessary to improve your business and improve your quality of life.

Make the process of negotiating easier on yourself by following these simple steps to get prepared:

• Brainstorm your own lists of possible asks during a negotiation

• Prioritize the list based on the ones you want more than others

• Practice having a negotiation conversation with a family or friend

• Enter into the conversation ready to collaborate, not dictate

I know this is a super brief overview of this topic (it’s honestly a huge concept that could be its own multi-section newsletter alone),

So if you want more nuanced advice on how to approach these conversations, I recommend watching this video by Ramit Sethi on The Briefcase Technique for Negotiation. It’s super insightful and has helped me get more comfortable asking for raises!

It’s time to ask for more

So which ask are you going to add to your next negotiation conversation? Let me know — I am rooting for you and want to hear how it goes.

Next week, we will explore a topic other than negotiation (for now, at least 😈)

Until then,