Effective Ways To Renegotiate For An Appraisal After Being Turned Down Once
Asking for a raise or promotion is undeniably the most awkward conversation one could ever have in the corporate world. You should either have a long list of achievements to back you or a robust skillset that is hard to ignore. However, in certain situations, both these things fail to work in the absence of effective negotiation skills.
If you are anticipating an appraisal, it’s best if you hone your negotiation skills. And, if you have already been denied once, it’s time to take a chance again, but with some extra preparations.
Before You Ask For An Appraisal
Before you sit with your manager to discuss your appraisal once again, you need to make some preparations beforehand. Read on to know what needs to be taken care of before you start the discussion once again.
- Ask for feedback
If your manager had rejected your appraisal before, you deserve to know the reason(s) behind it. Chances are they will highlight a few crucial flaws in your performance that are holding you back. In this case, you will have concrete reasons that you can overcome and return next time with proof of achievement. If the feedback revolves around some financial issues of the company then get clarity on the timeline for having those issues resolved.
- A little retrospection helps
Before blaming anyone else, reflect on your achievements and contributions of the past year; have you really made substantial contributions to deserve a hike? If yes, do not shy away from asking for an appraisal again, and if not, work on your shortcomings and try to improve your performance to be in a better negotiating position next time.
- Understand the market
To make sure your boss doesn’t play the low-budget and bad market card with you; study the market conditions before setting any negotiation strategies in motion.
Focus on your industry, specifically your area of expertise, and check out the salary norms. Take a mental note of observations you need to highlight during the discussion. Facts will emerge victorious in such cases.
- Know the right time to talk again
If the market is stagnant, postpone your plan of asking for an appraisal.
Get the market report, keep a tab on the regular changes, and wait for the time when you are more likely to get a “yes” for an answer.
When You Ask For An Appraisal
Once you have done your homework, put your proposal on the table again. Here are the best negotiation strategies you can use to turn the odds in your favor.
- Mention your achievements
Build a case for your appraisal. Tell the manager about the efforts you put into your work to reinforce the progress of the firm and provide evidence of your achievements. Highlight even the smallest of your achievements as they equally contribute to strengthening your position in the firm.
Tell them why you deserve a hike and also mention comparable job opportunities outside the organisation that offer better salary.
- Highlight your independent achievements
Your manager may associate your performance with the performance of your team; this is a classic tactic to decline due to association. Here, highlight your independent achievements; point out that your appraisals should be based on what’s in your control, like your own performance, and not the performance of other individuals. Talking about your role as a solo contributor is as important as talking about your role as a collaborator. You must mention how your work adds value to your team and the organization.
- Express your vision
While negotiating for an appraisal, do not forget to express your vision. Tell the manager how you plan to further leverage the growth of the organization through your efforts. If you already have a robust plan, do not hesitate in sharing it with your manager.
The Bottom Line
An employee always looks forward to getting an appraisal but likely has to face disappointment several times. However, this doesn’t imply that you should stop trying altogether.
Making a case for getting an appraisal is a skill in itself and the combination of self-reflection, preparation, and the above negotiation strategies will certainly help you raise your level of arguments and appraise your salary.