How to Build Confidence Before Asking for a Raise

If I had a dollar for every man who has walked into my office and told me with utter conviction that what I was paying him was a crime against humanity and would be considered an act of war in some small countries, I would be a billionaire. I’ve never been approached like this by a female employee. I’m not advocating that women do this since it never works for the men who try, but I’m worried still by how quiet women are when it comes to comp conversations. Avoiding the comp conversation is a terrible strategy; so is approaching it like a war crime tribunal at The Hague. Regardless of your gender, here’s what you do:  🧠 Mindset before method. 🧠   Forget your fears. Ditch the imposter syndrome – even if you can only manage to do that for the length of the conversation. You’re in a market. Claim value. If you’re delivering the goods, there is nothing untoward about having a compensation conversation with your boss. (If your boss recoils from a comp conversation, it might be time to find a new one.) 📊 Show up to the table with facts. 📊 Plainly share the projects you’ve been working on. “Here are my contributions, and here are the outcomes that I’ve achieved.” Rehearse it in front of a mirror until you feel confident and clear. Focus on facts, not feelings. 📍Situate yourself.📍 “Here’s my understanding of the role and where it sits in the market. Here are comps.” 💰Make the ask.💰   “I’m looking to be considered for xyz in compensation which I believe is more commensurate with my contributions.” 👎If it’s a no, find out what you need to do to get to a yes. 👍 Look, the answer might be “no” for all sorts of reasons (including the possibility that you have a meaningful amount of equity you’re not ascribing enough value to) – but you can’t walk out of the room (or the Zoom) without a clear understanding of A. Why the answer is no, and B. What you need to accomplish in your role to get to a “yes.” Ask for specifics.

In my 20s, I struggled to advocate for myself. When you're not naturally confident, it feels impossible. Here are 7 practical strategies I found actually work: 1/ Start with small wins → Begin in low-pressure settings → Track every advocacy attempt → Start with written requests first → Build confidence through repetition 2/ Know your worth → Create a "brag folder" → Document positive feedback regularly → Update achievements weekly → Quantify your contributions 3/ Practice your pitch → Record yourself speaking → Rehearse until it feels natural → Prepare for potential objections → Eliminate filler words 4/ Use "we" language strategically → Frame requests as mutual benefits → Connect to business priorities → Use the company's own language → Focus on collective outcomes 5/ Find allies and sponsors → Share credit with people of influence → Support others publicly → Build reciprocal relationships → Nurture your advocacy network 6/ Embrace the power of silence → Count to 10 after requests → Resist the urge to backtrack → Practice in low-stakes situations → Let others fill the silence 7/ Reflect often → Journal about each attempt → Focus on action, not outcome → Learn from every experience → Celebrate your courage I know it's hard... But you deserve to be heard just as much as the loudest person in the room! Don't you think? (Repost to help someone that needs to read this) _ 👋🏽 I'm Radha Vyas, CEO & Co-Founder of Flash Pack, connecting solo travelers on life-changing social adventures. Follow for daily posts on the journey!

Fear is a natural part of the journey. We all feel it, especially in today's challenging job market. But here's what I've learned after years of helping professionals make career pivots... Fear gets a voice, but not a vote. ✓ It can inform you, not control you. ✓ It can sharpen you, not silence you. ✓ It can prepare you, not paralyze you. The truth that changed everything for me: Most opportunities aren't lost to lack of qualifications. They're lost to moments of hesitation. If you've ever: ❌ Held back your best idea in a meeting ❌ Kept quiet when you had valuable insight ❌ Talked yourself out of applying for that dream role You're in excellent company. We've all been there. Here's what's helped me and the clients I work with push through: 1. Start before you feel ready ↳ Confidence is built through action, not waiting. ↳ Each small step forward builds momentum. 2. Document your impact ↳ That project you saved. The team you mentored. ↳ Your wins matter more than you realize. 3. Reframe your inner dialogue ↳ Self-doubt is just fear trying to keep you safe. ↳ But growth happens outside the comfort zone. 4. Make one courageous move this week ↳ Send that LinkedIn message. Schedule that coffee chat. ↳ Sometimes everything changes with one conversation. Yes, this job market is tough. Yes, the journey can feel overwhelming. But you've navigated challenges before. You've grown through every setback. You're more capable than your doubts suggest. Opportunities are still out there. And you deserve to pursue them. Your next chapter is waiting for you to write it. Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network. And give me a follow for more posts like this.