“You Don’t Deserve a Raise This Year” and Other Conversations You Hate Having

Whether you’re navigating performance reviews or holding the line on salary bands, talking about money in the workplace can get awkward fast.

In this episode, we dive into the most nuanced, and avoid-at-all-costs conversations managers are often thrown into without a script. We walk through some real-world questions from leaders dealing with everything from disappointed team members to deserving-but-not-ready promotion seekers.

You will gain our advice on:

1. How to tell someone they’re not getting a raise with empathy
2. The order (and emotional load) of separating performance reviews from compensation
3. What to do when a mid-level outperformer starts comparing themselves to a higher-paid peer who’s not performing as well
4. How to address the “I want more money but I haven’t taken any more initiative” dilemma
5. Why making promises you can’t keep is one of the fastest ways to ruin trust
6. How to keep top performers motivated when they’ve hit the top of their compensation band

We also tackle the subtle dynamics that can erode team morale such as rewarding the squeaky wheel, accidentally underpaying the “nicest” team members, and how to calibrate compensation across a team with fairness and transparency.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have language to use, failure modes to avoid, and a stronger compass for leading with clarity and care during compensation season.

Want to Ask Us a Question? We’re taking real questions from real managers and people leaders. Email us at dearlandl@elevateleadership.com, and we just might feature yours in a future episode.

Learn more about our solutions at https://www.elevateleadership.com/

Connect with Lindsey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseynehls/

Connect with Lucy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-georgiades-84933622/

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