| Although money shouldn't be the most important | | | | in office politics. Rise above the pettiness that can |
| factor in career decisions, it has a big impact on | | | | occur when a group of coworkers spend more |
| our lives. How much money we earn will dictate | | | | time with each other than they do with their own |
| where we live, where we vacation, the lifestyle | | | | families. Negative attitudes can significantly lower |
| we enjoy, and how and when we will retire. | | | | the production of a group. Participating in trivial |
| When you work for someone else, you have a | | | | activities can impact your annual raises and limits |
| limited amount of control over your salary. You | | | | your opportunities for advancement. |
| negotiate your starting salary and then you are | | | | 4. Do something different. The danger of having a |
| given increases at management's discretion for | | | | routine is that you rarely leave your comfort |
| annual reviews and promotions. Do you want | | | | zone. Playing it safe doesn't produce the "WOW" |
| more control over your salary? By understanding | | | | effect. Expand your focus and start taking |
| and increasing the value you provide to your | | | | calculated risks to drastically increase your results. |
| organization, you have the ability to increase the | | | | Don't be afraid to speak up in meetings with new |
| amount of money you can earn. | | | | and different ideas that will bring a fresh approach |
| Here are five ways to start increasing the value | | | | to achieving organizational goals. |
| you provide to the organization and ultimately, the | | | | 5. Know your market value. It's important to keep |
| salary that you earn. | | | | abreast of changes in the market. Become |
| 1. Specialize in a new area. Research upcoming | | | | familiar with tools and websites that provide |
| trends in your industry or find an area of | | | | updated salary data, know what the competition |
| weakness in your organization and establish | | | | is paying, and understand your company's |
| yourself as the expert. It may require additional | | | | compensation policies. Armed with this information, |
| education, training or certifications, but if you are | | | | you will be better equipped to negotiate annual |
| the go-to person for all related matters, you | | | | and promotional salary adjustments. |
| become an indispensable asset. | | | | Salary is a complicated subject. Getting paid more |
| 2. Make a direct impact on the bottom line. The | | | | money isn't something that can be accomplished |
| sole purpose of every company is to generate a | | | | overnight. Most organizations have a budget for |
| profit. Suggest a new way to service your | | | | salary increases that is divided among eligible |
| existing customer base to create a new income | | | | employees. Put yourself in management's shoes |
| stream. If you do not work directly in a revenue | | | | for a minute. Is the value you provide to the |
| producing area of business, implement new | | | | company worth more or less than your |
| practices that will save the company money. | | | | colleagues? Once you take the emotional piece |
| Calculate the impact you have on the bottom line | | | | out of the salary equation, you can objectively |
| and your value will be evident. | | | | create a plan to start getting paid what you are |
| 3. Be professional at all times. Although it sounds | | | | truly worth. |
| like a no-brainer, it can be easy to get caught up | | | | © 2006 Jill Frank. All Rights Reserved. |
