Jennifer Brick

There is so much salary negotiation advice online, and some tactics are highly effective, while others are going to sabotage your effort to increase the job offer. Many of the people I have worked with have found themselves more anxious and doubtful entering a negotiation after preparing by listening to advice online, which robs them of the most important success strategy in a negotiation: confidence. The company selected you because they know you are the best candidate for the job, and you know you bring skills, experience, and potential no one else does. No matter if you're asking for the average salary or the top end of the scale, be confident when you discuss numbers. You've prepared and researched the numbers, don't doubt yourself!

The biggest mistake I see ambitious professionals make is they wait for the opportunity. They establish themselves as top performers on their team, exceed expectations on all metrics they are given, and expect their hard work to be rewarded - only to be dismayed when opportunities are handed to other coworkers who do less, and occasionally to coworkers who will turn to them and ask for their help to complete the work (and then take credit for it). The best way is to create opportunities for yourself. Considering you unique talents, experience, and interest spot a problem you can easily solve. Then don't wait for permission, do the work, make an impact, and own your ambition unapologetically.

The biggest mistake I see teams and organizations make when they decide to invest into a workshop is they do not set measurable outcomes and supports post-session. Success metrics need to be clear, quantified, and measured pre- and post-workshop to determine if the goal is achieved.

Leadership does not require a job title. Effective leaders can lead from anywhere in the organization. There are three simple tactics that can help establish you as a leader before you get the formal promotion. First, make an effort to step up your perspective. How do the projects and problems you and your team are working on integrate with the greater business goals. Next, be proactive. With the context of the greater business, you will be able to start operating a step ahead. Finally, take an active role your professional development. When it comes to stepping up as a leader, identify the leadership skills you want to develop and focus on those. Now is also a great time to acknowledge and uplift others - this is what a true leader does.

Focus on the biggest aspect of your value proposition that everyone else misses here: your interests. Especially in a promotion scenario, your interest is your primary growth potential. It's likely you are proactively acquiring knowledge, developing skills, and gaining proficiency aligned with your interests that will be pivotal at the next level. Integrate that with your current skills, experience, and accomplishments and get clear on why this is an advantage in your next role. Not only will it allow you to communicate your potential, it will help everyone around you see it - including your promotion decision makers.

If you're an introvert, one of the top leadership skills is going to come naturally to you. This skill will make your team feel empowered, capable, and valued while utilizing one of your strengths as an introvert. When you're given the option between collaborative or supervisory work, as an introvert you're more likely to choose independent work. When you bring this tendency into your leadership style, you and your team will benefit from you not inserting yourself into their work and providing autonomy for them to succeed. Just be mindful you get to know each of your team member to learn about their ideal support levels and have clear and open communication paths to stay accessible when needed.