Here's how you can secure a salary increase without damaging your relationship with your employer.

In my experience as an HR professional, knowing your worth extends beyond salary; it encompasses your value as a resource to the company. It's crucial to recognize how your unique skills and contributions enhance the organization. When you leverage your abilities to drive company growth, it gets noticed and appreciated. Your worth is reflected in the impact of your contributions and the success of your tasks. Market dynamics often influence salary, meaning companies pay based on their needs and budget, so you might not always get what you believe you're worth. Assess your value through your contributions and align them with industry standards to effectively advocate for your worth.

Ask yourself these questions: Has your value to your employer increased? Has inflation or other factors affected the value of your package? What's the market rate for your role with other companies? How much would it cost your employer if they lost you and had to find a replacement? The most important thing to have in a negotiation is knowledge. Then, make sure you phrase things diplomatically and knowledgeably - saying "If you don't pay me X I'll leave and join a competitor" will probably make them wish you were leaving... Try something like; "I've been approached by a couple of companies offering me a pay rise, I really love it here and don't want to leave - could you increase my salary to X so I don't need to consider other options?"

When I heard ‘know your worth’ I take it as know your worth in your company. Yes companies use the market to figure out a range, but they pay based on your worth to the company. Know what your worth is to the company and the value add you bring. This is your best tool in the negotiation tool box.

When evaluating your worth, context matters. It's easy to learn salary ranges of similar job titles at other organizations using a few trusted job listing sites such as LinkedIn. The more difficult task is assessing your value within your company. The organizational context will define the value of your contribution. Your value to the organization is dependent on many factors including such things as the maturity level of the organization, the financial status of the organization, and more. Break down your responsibilities into tasks. Evaluate the value of each of your contributions to your organization as it is today. Add these all together to know your true value to the organization in the context of the organization's needs.

So how do you go about understanding what your worth? I have found good places to start are salary.com, payscale.com and Glassdoor. You could also use LinkedIn jobs to see what similar titles are paying at the moment. Then you must be able to determine the value of the work you've accomplished at your employer. While this is difficult for some roles, it is not impossible. Show the Value by Jack Phillips is a great place to start, as well as the ROI Institute. Once you can show what value you've delivered, it's all about determining a number that will mame you happy. What is a fair amount that will make you feel valued?

This can't be overstated. Timing is everything. If you're asking for a raise when the company is struggling financially, it can be like fighting an uphill battle. Making your proposal after a big win that benefits the company financially or taking on a new role is the most appropriate time to ask.

Using visuals abd backing up your claims with hard data lends credibility to the value you're saying you created, or helped create. Using formulas like those found at the ROI Institute can help turn data you have available into actual tangible ROI figures. You also will need to justify why the increase in your compensation will lead to MORE value provided.

Are you clear about what's driving you to request an increase? An increase request driven by suspected inequity, inflation, or changing salary trends, can sound self-centered and narrow-minded. It's best to add your supervisor's and company's perspective to your own before you approach your supervisor for a pay increase. Supervisors appreciate employees understanding that they have the difficult job of balancing limited resources and competing priorities. Presenting a holistic picture that includes the needs of the individual, the department, and the company will be much better received.

Patience, good faith and gratitude will go a long way in demonstrating your commitment to the company without seeming entitled. Many times, raises just aren't part of the current budget cycle, but asking and following up consistently with the decision-makers will get you what you want eventually.

Good companies are constantly re-recruiting their people. After all, it costs more to recruit, onboard and train a new employee than to compensate and reward an existing one. Keep this in mind, stay patient, looks for ways to add financial value to the company or your business unit. Track your accomplishments and then ask when the time is right. If you can demonstrate you saved the company 50,000 last year, it is much easier to justify a 5,000 raise in salary. Of course the more value you can provide and show, the more you can ask for.

Maintain a Positive Attitude: Regardless of the outcome, maintain a positive attitude and professionalism. Avoid becoming resentful or disengaged if your request is denied.

In my Opinion and experience, whenever we work with keeping salary increase in mind , chance are very high that we wont attract a salary hike. instead when we keep working and doing what we are suppose to do with positive attitude and acceptance, salary hike becomes a byproduct. i am sure many might disagree with this but the organisation i have worked they always appreciated and promoted people who showed below qualities - 1. Good Collaborator. 2. Problem Solver and solution seeker instead of just talking about problems. 3. Process Owner. these people own their work and nurture it as their baby. 4. Never a part of any Gossip. 5. Always Positive about their colleagues, people around and any situation.

I believe being realistic and specific is also important while asking for a salary increase to our employer, it can't be vague, I has to be realistic and specific, can't be unreasonable and the numbers or the percentage increase should be as per market standards, unreasonable demands can spoil the relationship with the employer so the demands should be realistic and specific.

Securing a salary increase without straining your relationship with your employer demands a delicate balance and strategic approach. One thing I've found helpful is to emphasize the value you bring to the organization during negotiations. By highlighting your achievements and contributions, you demonstrate your worth and justify the request for a raise. Additionally, maintaining open communication and expressing gratitude for opportunities while advocating for fair compensation can help preserve positive relationships throughout the negotiation process.