</p>
<p>Once you’ve nailed down what you’re going to say, you just need to practice. Repeat the script over and over until it becomes second nature to you. Once you’re comfortable with your script, you should practice making the ask by having a friend or family member stand in for your boss.</p>
<p>Try a few scenarios where your “boss” played by a friend denies your request at first. This will help you practice your recovery and refocusing strategy. You want to be as prepared as possible before doing it for real.</p>
<h2>6. Be prepared for the worst</h2>
<p>There is always a chance that all of your hard work might be met with resistance. If that’s the case, you should be prepared to answer any follow-up questions or objections your boss may have. Not only will it show that you are willing to stick up for yourself, but it shows you’ve done your research and you know what you’re worth.</p>
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<p>Here are a few sample script ideas you can use if your boss pushes back against your promotion request. You can access the rest by downloading our free script for asking for a promotion linked above.</p>
<p><strong>If your boss says: “We’re not giving out promotions at this time…”</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>You say: “I understand that there weren’t any plans to hand out promotions this year, but I think an exception should be made based on how the nature of my role has evolved. I’m doing the work of a <em>-insert desired title here-</em> at other companies and having my title changed to reflect that will not only reflect the level of work I actually do, but it will also eliminate confusion for our customers.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>If your boss says: “I’m going to need some time to review this with upper-management…”</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>You say: “Great! I’m happy to join that meeting or provide any of the research and data I’ve done to help make this decision as easy as possible. Let’s plan to meet again in a month to continue discussing the progress of this proposal.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>If your boss says: “I think you’re close, but you’re not quite there yet…”</strong></p>
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<blockquote>
<p>You say: “I understand and appreciate the feedback. Let’s set up a meeting to discuss some areas where you think I can improve and brainstorm some new projects that I can jump on to help bridge those gaps.”</p>
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<h2>3 things to avoid when asking for a promotion</h2>
<p>While there’s no right way to ask for a promotion, there are some things you should avoid. Be careful when asking that you avoid these three sticky situations.</p>
<h3>1. Don’t assume this will be a one and done conversation</h3>
<p>Even if your boss is on your side, there’s a great deal of paperwork and other people who will need to be involved in the process. Asking for a promotion usually involves a series of conversations before anything becomes final.</p>
<h3>2. Don’t threaten to leave unless you’re ready to lose your job</h3>
<p>Playing hardball and threatening to leave your company unless you get a promotion can sometimes put the right amount of pressure on your boss, but it can also get you walked right out the front door. Don’t resort to this tactic unless you’re ready to pack your desk up and ruin your working relationship with your current company.</p>
<h3>3. Don’t get discouraged if things don’t go your way</h3>
<p>Just because your boss denies your first request for a promotion doesn’t mean you’ll never be promoted at your job. Ask your boss for an actionable list of things you can work towards between now and your next review. Show them that you can take constructive criticism and that you’re serious about your career advancement.</p>
<h4>In order to be promoted, you need to get comfortable promoting yourself</h4>
<p>The key to asking for a promotion is confidence in the work you do. Don’t fall into the common trap of downplaying your own accomplishments and successes. It’s important to be your own biggest hype man and make sure that the people in charge know the value you bring.</p>
<p><strong>Looking to sweeten the deal? Learn <a href="https://learn.g2.com/how-to-ask-for-a-raise" rel="noopener" target="_blank">how to ask for a raise</a> along with your promotion. </strong></p>
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