Want to Make More Money? Stop Asking for a Raise and Start Doing THIS

Women still earn, on average, 84 cents for every dollar a man makes for the same job in the U.S. – and it’s been this way for nearly 20 years. One of the key reasons for this gap is that many women aren't taught how to advocate for their worth, negotiate their salaries, or position themselves as the strategic, competent leaders they truly are.

But what if one sentence, one email could change the trajectory of what's possible in your career and help you feel more confident about asking for what you’re worth?

In my 13 years in corporate, I had an advantage because I learned how to do that.

My dad used to teach negotiation, and he shared with me a simple process for asking for more money. What he taught me helped me earn more than I ever would have otherwise. Today, I teach this same process to leaders, and the results continue to move me. When people use it and come back with stories of success, it’s incredibly rewarding.

Here’s the process I learned and still teach:

👉 “I’d like to talk about how we can adjust my compensation to better reflect my increased value and contributions. I’d like to be at [$X] by [Y date]. Is that possible here?"

Then...stop talking.

Yes, it'll probably feel awkward. That’s okay.

No matter how they respond, you’ll learn something that'll help you make your next move:

They see your value and are open to making adjustments to keep you there.
They don’t align on your value, and you get to decide whether you accept that and stay and maybe negotiate for other benefits like time off, training dollars, or flexibility.
They don’t align on your value, and you get to choose whether it's time to move on.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

✨ Raises aren’t handed out. They’re advocated for.

✨ If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.

✨ Your work has value. Own it.

Now, if you're feeling underpaid or undervalued, this is your nudge. You’ve been waiting for permission, and here it is. Maybe it’s time to Unmute Yourself and ask!

Jessica's Story

Two years ago, Jessica, a recruiter, was sitting in an HR conference where I was speaking. She took a picture of the magic bolded sentence above that I shared (the comp adjustment one), and then she did something with it. At the time, Jessica was in a banded position, and she would have had to wait nine more months for her next promotion.

But, as she sat in the room listening to what I was saying, she realized she was already doing the work of the next band. So she stopped waiting and took action on her own timeline. She followed three simple steps that changed her career path (and her bank account):

She started the email with that prompt: “I’d like to discuss how we can adjust my compensation to reflect my increased value and contributions..."
She included an impact inventory of her contributions.
She made the ask for more money.

That’s the anatomy of getting a raise through an email.

In just 2.5 weeks, Jessica was promoted to the next band and got a salary increase nine months earlier than expected.

She told me that advocating for herself in that way gave her the confidence to advocate for herself in other ways.

That's because confidence it compounding.

The more we practice it, the more it builds, and the bolder we become.

So, I have two questions for you:

Where are you leaving money on the table?
What might be possible if you asked for your worth?

Tracking Your Impact

When you make an ask like that, you need to back it up with evidence (step #2 above). That’s why I created a simple tool I call the Impact Inventory to help you track your value year-round. Think of it as a way to future-proof your career. Don't expect anyone else to do this for you. YOU have to be the one to track your impact.

Open up a Word or Google doc and, on a biweekly basis, update it with the contributions you've made:

How you've helped the company save or make money
Thought leadership you've contributed to expand and build your employer brand (e.g., speaking, writing articles, podcasts, media features, etc.)
Business you've brought on or retained
Team members you've trained / mentored
Certifications you've gained to strengthen your technical expertise
Process improvements or efficiencies you've introduced
Cross-departmental collaboration or leadership on key projects

When the time comes for those salary or promotion conversations, you’ll already have a track record of your value, and that makes the conversation a lot easier.

This might not be the right fit for every situation, as every organization is different, but it’s worked powerfully for me and many others, and it just might work for you, too.

As We Close...

Ask yourself what you're missing out on because you're not asking for what you're worth.

Now, imagine what might be possible in your life, your career, and your finances if you had the courage to "go for it" and unmute yourself?

You have to advocate for yourself more than anyone else.

You have what it takes, and now you have a process to help you.

You can do it. I believe in you.

Let me know if you do this and it works for you. I LOVE celebrating your wins!

How Can I Help?

Over the last 15+ years, I’ve devoted myself to helping organizations, leaders and teams go from burned out and checked out to energized, engaged, motivated, and connected. I've done this through interactive keynotes, team building workshops, leadership trainings, and retreats, onsite and virtually.

If you're interested in learning more about my services for your organization or association on the topic above or other topics, start here and we can find time to connect! You can also send me a DM on here, and I'll respond.

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