We’ve probably all been there, ladies.  You have a birthday or holiday in your past when the gift you received was not the romantic jewelry or flowers you’d been dreaming about for months.

Instead, you opened the package only to look up with a frozen smile and a forced “Thank You” that belied the “What were you thinking?” that was running through your head.  And to be fair, the giver probably genuinely expected you to like it.  So as you “admired” your new yard rake, you were wondering what went wrong.  Sure you never actually told him you wanted something romantic even though you’d been dropping hints for months.  Besides, if you actually had to tell him what you want, it’s not worth it.  He should know.

Right?

Now translate that into business.  You want a raise.  In your mind, you deserve it.  After all, you’ve been at the company a long time now, your performance has been excellent and your work is quality.  Your boss should know.  So far, hints have been dropped – sprinkled into your conversation like salt.  At one point you courageously ask.  Your boss says no, but gives you a new stapler instead.

Generally speaking, women wanting a raise or promotion wait to be noticed and rewarded.  That’s an invitation for frustration.  In business, you have to plan for what you want and ask for it specifically.  Here, I’ve condensed some of the best strategies for successfully making your request.

Read the Full Story