Find Out Why They'd Say No
Asking for a raise? Before you do, find out why they’d say no.
Most people do the opposite. They build the case for yes, rehearse it, and walk in hoping nothing comes up.
Something always comes up.
What will your manager actually say?
The 3 you’ll hear:
- “We’d have to talk about new responsibilities.”
- “I need to see a business case for it.”
- “There are budget concerns.”
None of those are answers.
Why can’t you argue with any of them?
They’re fog. And the vaguer it is, the better it works on you, because you can’t argue with fog.
Pushing back looks…pushy.
So you leave hoping you got a “maybe.”
What do you do about an objection nobody has said out loud?
When something negative is unspoken, it’s like bugs nesting under a rock.
Turn the rock over first. Weeks before the conversation, not during it.
What do you actually say?
“I’m thinking about my next 12 months here. If I came to you asking for more, what would make it hard for you to say yes?”
Why does asking weeks early work?
People are more likely to tell you the truth when they don’t have to defend a position yet. When it’s hypothetical and in the future.
Understanding their perspective is 90% of the battle. It also improves your relationship with them and your work.
Then the actual ask becomes a formality.
Already know your boss is going to say “budget”? The script for getting ahead of that is at effortwise.com/pay-raise-script
