Be good at what you do
If you are putting your best foot forward and producing good results, it's natural that you should want a raise in your salary. Ask your boss whether you can discuss this and when would be the right time. When you are invited to do so, go prepared. Look back on your accomplishments, the responsibilities you hold and the extra things you do that are not actually part of your job description. Your boss might be too busy to notice everything you do so it's alright to bring it to their attention, but gently. Too much bragging can upset the scales.Seek the right time
Recognize the right time to approach your boss. If the company is in a good place, go ahead and put your demand forward. But while your company is suffering losses or struggling to stay afloat, you should take it as a bad time. Your demands at this stage might just aggravate your boss and you might even have to bear some consequences. So check the right time for both the company and you before making the move.
Go with a constructive attitude
While making your case, own a positive attitude and do not complain. Also, do not compare your salary with that of your colleague. If you must ask for a raise, let it be because you are worth it. You must remember to be polite because you shouldn't be offending your boss, of course. Choose your words carefully. Don't demand or beg. No complaining that you're doing the work of three people, either. What you can do, instead, is point out that you've been working hard on researching, writing and pitching the idea to clients, or that you've been mentoring your juniors as well as doing your own work. It's also smarter not to list out personal reasons as while they are important, they're not exactly professional. You should prove that you are a valuable part of this company's growth process. In case your boss tells you that it's not the right time, ask for the reason politely and when you can expect to discuss this again. Follow up on that time if they don't get back to you sooner. In the meanwhile, continue to work hard.
Have a target amount in mind
Think carefully about the sum you have in mind. When you arrive at the negotiating point, you can either wait for your boss to name a specific amount or you can put your demand on the table. If your boss names a sum that doesn't seem fair to you, don't refuse straightaway or begin to grumble. State politely that it is below what you had in mind and give him the sum you think is appropriate. Maybe you can give a slightly exaggerated amount (not ridiculously high) so that you can achieve middle ground. But that might not always work, so be careful.
Related story
The CIAA has failed us
