Money is not the easiest subject in the world, and you could certainly be forgiven for feeling a little on the cringey side when it comes to attempting a conversation with your boss to up your salary. Not many people enjoy boasting their achievements and most people find selling themselves to be a little difficult. That being said, if you don’t at least attempt it, then you could be selling yourself seriously short in the salary stakes, and only a fool works for much less than they deserve.

So, if you’re finding your salary to be a little on the low side, and you want to push for what you feel you’re worth, here’s three tips to help you on your way. Remember that one size will never fit all, and it depends on the kind of relationship you have with your boss, but on the whole, attitude is everything, and preparation is certainly key.

Aim high, but keep realism in mind. Be prepared to compromise.

You want to be taken seriously, so if you go in there with pie in the sky ideas, you’re going to be laughed out of the room, or at least turned down. Do a little research into the pay scales of those who do similar jobs in other organisations, and look at your achievements in your role so you can back up your request. Find a figure which is both satisfying to you, and realistic in general, and be prepared to compromise somewhere in the middle.

Attitude is everything

There’s a difference between being firm and being arrogant. Confidence is key, but arrogance is not. Make sure your body language is open and confident, but don’t go in there demanding anything, you need to request firmly. Basically, you need to discuss, not demand, be friendly, but maintain firmness. It’s a difficult line to manage sometimes, but if you can create a sense of a discussion, rather than a stand-off, you’ll be in with a much better chance of success, and your boss will be impressed with your negotiating skills.

Be prepared

We mentioned earlier about doing some research into how much other people earn doing the same kind of roles in other places, and you need to have this down on paper, with some reference to back up your claims. If you took part in a course that upped your stakes in the organisation, do you have a certificate for your attendance? Do you have anything paper-based that shows your achievements in other ways? If not, create a business case, for lack of a better phrase; basically, you need a written document of why you believe you should be given that all-important raise.

Nobody said walking into your boss’ office and talking about your worth in monetary terms would be easy, in fact it’s probably one of the most awkward conversations you’re going to have in your working life, but remember this – if you deserve more, you should of course ask for it.