WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.000
Welcome back to Day Day Up, the weekly podcast for Chinese professionals navigating the Western workplace.
00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:06.879
I'm Jonathan.
00:00:06.959 --> 00:00:08.240
Let's get into it.
00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:10.880
Here's your compensation for next year.
00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:12.080
Any questions?
00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:17.199
This is the moment most people finally decide to ask for a raise.
00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:19.679
By then, they're already too late.
00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.079
If you want the raise you deserve, you need to ask your manager three questions.
00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:28.800
And you need to ask them weeks before your performance review, not during it.
00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:34.560
But first, you need to understand how raises work because most people have no idea.
00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:36.880
I've sat on the manager's side of this table.
00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:43.679
In my strategy and operations work, I also led headcount and compensation planning for an organization of 500 people.
00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:45.840
So let me open up the black box.
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:52.079
There's one important thing about raises that your manager will never tell you, because it creates rivalries on the team.
00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:56.799
Your raise isn't you versus your company, or you versus your manager.
00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:59.439
It's you versus your own teammates.
00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:04.879
Months before anyone's review, managers at my company would get an email from finance.
00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:07.040
Inside was one number.
00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:11.760
Let's say that number is 3%.
00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:18.000
If your manager gives you 5%, that means someone else on your team is getting 1%.
00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:21.519
Then comes a meeting nobody invites you to.
00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:28.719
Every manager sits in a room with an imaginary bag of money in the middle and they go around the table fighting for their share of it.
00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:34.799
Your manager has to say your name out loud and explain why you specifically deserve more.
00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:37.599
This process is called calibration.
00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:40.480
And it's the moment your raise gets decided.
00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:48.000
For those of us Chinese who were raised to keep our heads down and let our work speak for itself, this is a hard truth to swallow.
00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:50.480
Your work doesn't speak in that room.
00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:52.159
Your manager does.
00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:55.920
So your job is to make sure they have something worth saying.
00:01:56.239 --> 00:02:00.000
Question one What can I do to help you make my case?
00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:03.120
Ask this at least two months before your review.
00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:04.719
Timing is critical here.
00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:09.360
Most people wait until the review itself to hand their manager a list of achievements.
00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:10.800
That's too late.
00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:16.319
Even worse, you have no idea if your manager even cares about the things on that list.
00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:18.319
This question flips it.
00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:24.879
Instead of guessing the criteria, you're asking your manager to hand them to you and if they raise any gaps.
00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:29.199
Well, two months is enough time to go out and deliver on them.
00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:30.639
Question two.
00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:33.520
What's the main message of our case?
00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:37.039
Ask this at least one month before your review.
00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:39.199
Then stop talking and listen.
00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:47.120
If you've kept your manager updated all year and they've been paying attention, what they come up with will be better than anything you could write yourself.
00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:53.280
After all, they see the company at a different level and can speak more accurately to your broader impact.
00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:56.400
They also know what leaders in the room want to hear.
00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:03.919
But if you hear something vague, like, we'll say you're a strong performer who exceeds expectations, you know you have work to do.
00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:07.120
That sentence wins nothing in the calibration room.
00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:10.000
You need to hand your manager sharper talking points.
00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:13.919
Question three, how much can we realistically expect?
00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:17.280
Ask this at least one week before your review.
00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:18.960
This question does two things.
00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:21.520
First, it gives you critical information.
00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:25.439
It tells you whether you're getting a raise at all, and if so, how much?
00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:27.520
Second, it creates commitment.
00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:33.360
Once your manager sets an expectation with you, they will fight that much harder in the room to make it happen.
00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:42.400
And worst case, if your raise isn't happening this time, you have dedicated space and time to discuss a game plan to make sure the raise doesn't get missed next time.
00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:48.080
You don't have to cram a rushed conversation in between feedback and performance review discussions.
00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:49.360
There you go.
00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:53.759
Three questions that could be the most lucrative questions you ask in your career.
00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:57.520
I hope you never again ask for money that's already been spent.
00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:02.479
And the next time your manager walks into that room, I hope yours is the first name they say.
00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:06.000
Alright, that's your growth tip for this week.
00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:07.840
Now let's take a melon break.
00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:13.840
On October 1st, I'm racing Hyrocks in Toronto.
00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.240
If you will be too, I hope I see you there.
00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:22.560
If you haven't heard of it, HyROX is the fitness race that you've been seeing people posting about everywhere on social media.
00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:24.319
How do you know someone does Hyrux?
00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:26.000
They'll make sure to tell you they do it.
00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:30.160
Jokes aside, it's a tough sport involving cardio, strength, speed, and grit.
00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:31.199
A lot of grit.
00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:34.480
Sometimes some may argue too much grit.
00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:41.839
At Hyrox Beijing two weeks ago, Australian world record holder Joanna Witchlick lost control of her bowels and defecated mid-race.
00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:46.800
To put it less delicately and more plainly, she pooped herself, but she didn't stop.
00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:51.920
She kept running, rowing and lifting on shared equipment, and she crossed the line in first place.
00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:57.600
Other athletes reportedly slipped on the course and had reactions to whatever she had left behind her.
00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:00.879
Her Instagram caption afterward read, A win is a win.
00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:04.720
The internet did not agree, with widespread criticism coming down on her.
00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.399
Later, she deleted the post, apologized, and gave up the title.
00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:12.480
Hyrux issued a formal apology, admitting it should have stopped her race.
00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:14.160
To her credit, she owned it.
00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:18.879
It really could happen to anyone, which means my race day goals have quietly changed.
00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:21.199
A month ago I wanted a good finish time.
00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:24.000
Now I just want to finish without becoming a news story.
00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.639
Wish me luck and calm stomachs ahead.
00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:30.160
Here is how you can use this topic in Smalltalk next week.
00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:33.519
Here's how you can bring this up naturally during small talk.
00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:34.720
With coworkers.
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:41.439
Did you see the HIROC story from Beijing, the athlete who kept racing through stomach problems and actually won?
00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:46.959
I honestly can't decide if that's the most determined thing I've ever seen or the most disgusting.
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.600
With your boss, skip this one.
00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:53.040
They have enough him to deal with.
00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:09.519
To learn more, check out my free weekly newsletter for communicating in the Western workplace, read by over 2,000 Chinese professionals.
00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:12.879
Just search Daily Up Jonathan and you will find me.
00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:14.240
That's all for today.
00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:17.519
See you next Sunday with the Chisang Shao Hopan.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.000
Welcome back to Day Day Up, the weekly podcast for Chinese professionals navigating the Western workplace.
00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:06.879
I'm Jonathan.
00:00:06.959 --> 00:00:08.240
Let's get into it.
00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:10.880
Here's your compensation for next year.
00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:12.080
Any questions?
00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:17.199
This is the moment most people finally decide to ask for a raise.
00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:19.679
By then, they're already too late.
00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.079
If you want the raise you deserve, you need to ask your manager three questions.
00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:28.800
And you need to ask them weeks before your performance review, not during it.
00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:34.560
But first, you need to understand how raises work because most people have no idea.
00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:36.880
I've sat on the manager's side of this table.
00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:43.679
In my strategy and operations work, I also led headcount and compensation planning for an organization of 500 people.
00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:45.840
So let me open up the black box.
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:52.079
There's one important thing about raises that your manager will never tell you, because it creates rivalries on the team.
00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:56.799
Your raise isn't you versus your company, or you versus your manager.
00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:59.439
It's you versus your own teammates.
00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:04.879
Months before anyone's review, managers at my company would get an email from finance.
00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:07.040
Inside was one number.
00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:11.760
Let's say that number is 3%.
00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:18.000
If your manager gives you 5%, that means someone else on your team is getting 1%.
00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:21.519
Then comes a meeting nobody invites you to.
00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:28.719
Every manager sits in a room with an imaginary bag of money in the middle and they go around the table fighting for their share of it.
00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:34.799
Your manager has to say your name out loud and explain why you specifically deserve more.
00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:37.599
This process is called calibration.
00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:40.480
And it's the moment your raise gets decided.
00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:48.000
For those of us Chinese who were raised to keep our heads down and let our work speak for itself, this is a hard truth to swallow.
00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:50.480
Your work doesn't speak in that room.
00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:52.159
Your manager does.
00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:55.920
So your job is to make sure they have something worth saying.
00:01:56.239 --> 00:02:00.000
Question one What can I do to help you make my case?
00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:03.120
Ask this at least two months before your review.
00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:04.719
Timing is critical here.
00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:09.360
Most people wait until the review itself to hand their manager a list of achievements.
00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:10.800
That's too late.
00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:16.319
Even worse, you have no idea if your manager even cares about the things on that list.
00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:18.319
This question flips it.
00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:24.879
Instead of guessing the criteria, you're asking your manager to hand them to you and if they raise any gaps.
00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:29.199
Well, two months is enough time to go out and deliver on them.
00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:30.639
Question two.
00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:33.520
What's the main message of our case?
00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:37.039
Ask this at least one month before your review.
00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:39.199
Then stop talking and listen.
00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:47.120
If you've kept your manager updated all year and they've been paying attention, what they come up with will be better than anything you could write yourself.
00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:53.280
After all, they see the company at a different level and can speak more accurately to your broader impact.
00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:56.400
They also know what leaders in the room want to hear.
00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:03.919
But if you hear something vague, like, we'll say you're a strong performer who exceeds expectations, you know you have work to do.
00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:07.120
That sentence wins nothing in the calibration room.
00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:10.000
You need to hand your manager sharper talking points.
00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:13.919
Question three, how much can we realistically expect?
00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:17.280
Ask this at least one week before your review.
00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:18.960
This question does two things.
00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:21.520
First, it gives you critical information.
00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:25.439
It tells you whether you're getting a raise at all, and if so, how much?
00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:27.520
Second, it creates commitment.
00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:33.360
Once your manager sets an expectation with you, they will fight that much harder in the room to make it happen.
00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:42.400
And worst case, if your raise isn't happening this time, you have dedicated space and time to discuss a game plan to make sure the raise doesn't get missed next time.
00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:48.080
You don't have to cram a rushed conversation in between feedback and performance review discussions.
00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:49.360
There you go.
00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:53.759
Three questions that could be the most lucrative questions you ask in your career.
00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:57.520
I hope you never again ask for money that's already been spent.
00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:02.479
And the next time your manager walks into that room, I hope yours is the first name they say.
00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:06.000
Alright, that's your growth tip for this week.
00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:07.840
Now let's take a melon break.
00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:13.840
On October 1st, I'm racing Hyrocks in Toronto.
00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.240
If you will be too, I hope I see you there.
00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:22.560
If you haven't heard of it, HyROX is the fitness race that you've been seeing people posting about everywhere on social media.
00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:24.319
How do you know someone does Hyrux?
00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:26.000
They'll make sure to tell you they do it.
00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:30.160
Jokes aside, it's a tough sport involving cardio, strength, speed, and grit.
00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:31.199
A lot of grit.
00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:34.480
Sometimes some may argue too much grit.
00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:41.839
At Hyrox Beijing two weeks ago, Australian world record holder Joanna Witchlick lost control of her bowels and defecated mid-race.
00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:46.800
To put it less delicately and more plainly, she pooped herself, but she didn't stop.
00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:51.920
She kept running, rowing and lifting on shared equipment, and she crossed the line in first place.
00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:57.600
Other athletes reportedly slipped on the course and had reactions to whatever she had left behind her.
00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:00.879
Her Instagram caption afterward read, A win is a win.
00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:04.720
The internet did not agree, with widespread criticism coming down on her.
00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.399
Later, she deleted the post, apologized, and gave up the title.
00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:12.480
Hyrux issued a formal apology, admitting it should have stopped her race.
00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:14.160
To her credit, she owned it.
00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:18.879
It really could happen to anyone, which means my race day goals have quietly changed.
00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:21.199
A month ago I wanted a good finish time.
00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:24.000
Now I just want to finish without becoming a news story.
00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.639
Wish me luck and calm stomachs ahead.
00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:30.160
Here is how you can use this topic in Smalltalk next week.
00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:33.519
Here's how you can bring this up naturally during small talk.
00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:34.720
With coworkers.
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:41.439
Did you see the HIROC story from Beijing, the athlete who kept racing through stomach problems and actually won?
00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:46.959
I honestly can't decide if that's the most determined thing I've ever seen or the most disgusting.
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.600
With your boss, skip this one.
00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:53.040
They have enough him to deal with.
00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:09.519
To learn more, check out my free weekly newsletter for communicating in the Western workplace, read by over 2,000 Chinese professionals.
00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:12.879
Just search Daily Up Jonathan and you will find me.
00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:14.240
That's all for today.
00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:17.519
See you next Sunday with the Chisang Shao Hopan.
