Ellen has been told her performance is excellent. She's been thinking of asking for a raise and is curious about etiquette surrounding this.

We'll look at one consideration today and another tomorrow.

First, examine your performance from your employer's standpoint as well as your own. We tend to overestimate our own importance and view expected performance as something greater.

Excellent performance is expected once we have learned the necessary skills to do our job. Talk to your manager and discuss actual behaviors, actions and the results of your work to highlight contributions. Invite feedback about what behaviors and successful results may lead to a raise.

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